- Editorial
- Online Motorcycling News
- Whiteknights Blood Bikes
- South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
- Kevin Williams
- Motorcycling Organisations’ News”They speak for bikers throughout the UK & Europe!”
Editorial
Change brings opportunity! Your SAM newsletter is going fully online. This means that any approved SAM member can contribute information and views. All approvals will be made by the SAM Committee and the editor will do any editing needed. All you need is an internet connection and browser. Any contributions should be made by following the submission guidelines; and, always keeping your copy within the parameters of truth, politeness and social responsibility.
Motorcycle politics and education have dominated the news this week. There are forthcoming elections, in both the UK and Europe. All the major motorcycling organisations have produced manifestos for motorcycling. They remind political candidates that motorcycling is a BIG industry. In the UK, there are 1.5 million regular riders and 3.5 million motorcycle licence holders. The industry contributes £7 billion to the UK economy each year, services 5,500 businesses with 58,000 employees. In the EU, the industry is worth £18.3 billion producing and servicing 40 million motorcycles with 389,000 jobs. You can support the UK’s NMC manifesto by going to the special campaign website, reading the manifesto and getting local party candidates to support it. This is how we find out who will support us!
It is now well recognised that motorcycling is a key part of the future of personal transport. It fosters social mobility, improves quality of life and increases economic prosperity. One area that is very light on detail is training and education. Whilst there is a bill going through parliament revising the current graduate motorcycle licence, the actual education and training seem to be an afterthought. All SAM members know that there are ‘lessons in every ride’ and that ‘learning to ride’ takes a lifetime of roadcraft adaptation. Even as technology evolves, negotiating the highway will always be a challenge and the hazard landscape continuously changes. There is still a very big job to do in making motorcycling accessible to those who need it most, affordable to sustain it and a pathway to maintaining continuous improvement in riding roadcraft. SAM will continue to do its part in ensuring that motorcyclists in our community will have the chance to adapt and improve their riding and roadcraft. Kevin Williams shares a very insightful article on the nature of learning to ride by asking, ‘Was Confucius a motorcycle trainer’? Just a thought.
Finally to ALL SAM members who are having a hard time with ill health, let us know if you want visitors, grapes or chocolates. For reading material you have your FREE SAM Newsletter! Take care and make the best progress possible. Until next week on the SAM website, happy reading.
Ways to stay in touch with your Club!
It’s really easy to stay in touch with your Club! We provide emails, a website and use social media accounts for you to contact us. All of which is free of any cost to the Club. If you are not getting the Club information circulated, or simply want to tell us something, just let us know at sam-editor@iam-sheffield.bike. We’ll be happy to ensure that we stay in touch with you. You can also now sign up for Club emails on the SAM website.
| Next SAM Club Night 3rd June 2024 7.30pm for an 8pm start Treeton Miners Welfare Club Arundel Street, Treeton Rotherham S60 5PW | Next SAM Committee Meeting 29th June 2024 Details to be arranged |
Online Motorcycling News
 | ELECTRIC: What does our future look like? The UK Government has decreed the end of production of ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles from 2035. Manufacturers like Maeving are filling the small-capacity space, but with just 11 years to go, the range of larger capacity/power electric motorcycles on the market still remains relatively small. Read more |
| Motorcycle industry boss responds to reports of 2040 petrol motorcycle ban The CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has confirmed that we could see a fresh announcement on the phase out of petrol bikes ahead of the UK Parliament summer recess in July, however states nothing is currently set in stone. “As the representative body for the industry, we are in constant dialogue with the Ministerial Team and Department for Transport (DFT) senior officials on all policy changes that will affect our sector,” MCIA CEO, Tony Campbell told MCN. Read more |  |
 | This AI Doesn’t Think Motorcyclists Need to Wear Safety Gear Technology waits for no person. It pushes forward, progressing to the stars, and only betters humankind. At least, that’s what the tech bros of Silicon Valley want you to think. More often than not, the life-changing, future-forward technology they produce is stuff that already exists, but somehow worse with a shiny new paint job—cough, cough, the Hyperloop is a damn subway. Or, it makes the world a far more unsafe place to be, as is the case here. Read more |
| What is a mousse and are they legal? | MCN explains the ins and outs of this off-road puncture proof system Off road racers – include Dakar heroes are well known for using puncture-proof mousses in their tyres, but they’re now becoming more and more popular with everyday off-road enthusiasts. Since their inception almost 40 years ago, mousses have grown hugely in popularity. Read more |  |
 | Skills school: Eyes on the prize The way you use your vision defines every decision you make on road, off-road and on track. So use it effectively… WITH DAVE HEWSON CHIEF TRACK COACH Dave’s done a 123mph lap of the TT, rides an Aprilia Tuono V4 on the road, and is crew chief for Rapid Honda’s British Superbike Welcome to the third instalment of MCN’s Riding Masterclass series. Having covered precision steering last week, the experts at Rapid Training now turn their attention to visual skills – possibly the easiest way to transform your riding. Read more |
| Lincs Road Safety Partnership confirm speed cameras along popular biking road never switched on. The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership have confirmed to MCN that speed cameras erected nearby to popular biker haunt, Willingham Woods have not been in operation since their installation last year. Installed as part of a £3 million road safety fund, the cameras are situated along the A631, a stretch of road which has been described by Simon Outen-Coe of the partnership as “having a higher-than-average number of collisions resulting in personal injury.” Reportedly, a difficulty in supplying power to the cameras is holding back operations. Read more |  |
 | While sitting on a rock in the middle of Bodmin Moor in 2007 I was approached by a walker interested in the off road rider training we were doing in preparation for an expedition to Iceland. “If you want a real challenge you should get yourself out to Ethiopia and take on the Napier trail,” he muttered as he wandered off into the rain. Read more |
| Inside the Belly of an Elephant is the kind of book that grabs you in the first pages, where you find yourself disappearing into the story while the rest of life goes on unnoticed around you. Todd Lawson takes you into a tale of extraordinary lives, travels, disasters, and life’s silver linings hidden amid rainclouds. Motorcycles are key, but more than anything, this is a book about adventure, the diversity of Mankind, and challenges surmounted. Its topics take the reader from extremely dire circumstances to amazing highs. It makes an eye-opening and inspirational tale. Read more |  |
 | As a child, Andrew lived just outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Due to Apartheid-related political instability of that time his parents wanted to immigrate to the United Kingdom. Those were the insecure and dangerous days of 1979. His father was adventurous and decided that the best way to reach the UK would be via a VW camper van, driven through the heart of Africa. There was no stopping him in his plan, so off they went to Botswana. However, when they were unable to negotiate a border crossing at Victoria Falls their overland trip was cut short, and the van had to be traded in for airline tickets – their dream was crushed (for the moment, at least). Read more |
| THIS EDITION OF Speed Read might just boast the biggest difference in engine size we’ve ever featured. We go from a monstrous nitrous-fueled BMW R18 from Roland Sands Design, to a 49 cc Suzuki scooter from Taiwan’s MetalCave. We also look at the limited edition Ducati Monster Senna, and a lightly-fettled Indian FTR 1200 from Motocrew. Read more |  |
 | Machine over ‘scene’ for scooterist Mark For scooter enthusiast Mark Genery, it’s far more about the machine than the scene. He told us about his fascination for classic scooters. For scooter enthusiast Mark Genery, it’s far more about the machine than the scene. Sure, the 56-year-old loved attending local rallies in the ‘80s, and helped form a scooter club in his teens, but these days he’s more in his element getting his hands dirty than sitting in the saddle. Read more |
Meadowhall Retail Park, Attercliffe Common, Sheffield S9 2YZ
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
 | Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes would like to hear from people who are able to become volunteer fundraisers for this vital charity that benefits patients in Yorkshire. Please get In touch. Even if you can only spare an hour to volunteer for us – we really need people to help us. Hope to hear from you soon. Message us through Facebook or email |
| Last training walk before the start of my 100 mile walk along the Leeds Liverpool canal from Leeds to Parbold in aid of Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes on Tuesday. Please give me a wave or a shout if you see me. |  |
 | Today Whiteknights have joined up with Clive from Northumbria Blood Bikes and Alan from Greater Manchester Blood Bikes Charity to participate in a national Donated Breast Milk relay. Whiteknights’ driver today was North Yorks Regional Manager, Andy Richardson – pictured. Great work guys! #bloodbikes |
  |
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
 | BetheBest – we have created a generic logo to encourage all riders to take additional training in one format or another; such as IAM, BikeSafe or ERS. The new logo and #BetheBest tagline has been printed on promotional snoods to promote the campaign (available at SAM Club Nights). The snoods have been produced in a series of different motorbike brand colours, (Red, Orange, Green and Blue), to test if this approach is more appealing to riders. |
Kevin Williams
 | For many years road safety experts, police and motorcyclists have known that the most common collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle happens when the motorcyclist has right-of-way and another driver turns into the rider’s path. All the way back in 1977, US researcher Harry Hurt stated: “The most likely comment of an automobile driver involved in a traffic collision with a motorcycle is that he, or she, did not SEE the motorcycle…” Read more… Also, see all Kevin’s posts at ko-fi.com/survivalskills |
| The politicising of speed limits… [Based on the in-depth piece in yesterday’s Elevenses webcast] Last week I was talking about the issues surrounding lowering the urban speed limit to 20 mph. Not surprisingly, there was some people supportive of lower limits, others who questioned the need, and a suggestion that 20’s so slow they lose concentration on those roads. But by coincidence, a story appeared in a local online newspaper on Friday about a road not too far away from me that could have its limit reduced from 30 mph to 20. Read more |  |
 | Motion Camouflage – the unknown killer. We hear all too often that drivers ‘don’t look properly’ or ‘don’t look hard enough’ for motorcycles. Why? Because motorcycles are involved in a lot of ‘looked but failed to see’ collisions with drivers who pull out of, or turn into junctions, without seeing the approaching motorcycle. But is this theory actually correct? Well, at least one study found that when adjusted for numbers, drivers in cars pulled out in front of other cars just as often as they pulled out in front of motorcycles. Read more |
| Was Confucious a motorcycle trainer? “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” These are words attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucious, who lived around 500 BC. There are various versions but it seems to me that his insight can certainly be applied to the acquisition of driving and motorcycling skills. Read more |  |
 | Elevenses 429 Sun 19 May – motorcycle news, tips & views in today’s show… average speed cameras for Meon Hut area… blazing Harley burns down US gas station… Nigeria’s Boda Boda loan companies summoned to government committee… 14 year old believed to be behind record motorcycle thefts on Rarotonga… appeal court reverses Punjab plans to supply bikes to students… date for the diary – Thames Valley air ambulance ride-out… Pulsar Dominar baby tourer… in-depth today – do we need a government review of dazzling headlights…Watch here |
| Is there a problem with superbright lights? [Based on the in-depth item in yesterday’s ‘Elevenses’ live webcast] If you feel blinded by oncoming headlights when riding or driving, you’re not alone. The Soft Lights Foundation is calling for a ban on what it calls “blinding headlights”, circulating a petition that has more than 41,000 signatures from people complaining that with vehicle headlights getting brighter, the result is more glare. The group says it’s dangerous. Read more |  |
Motorcycling Organisations’ News
“They speak for bikers throughout
the UK & Europe!“
 | Soaring motor premiums fuelling spike in uninsured younger drivers Drivers aged 17-20 with new IN10 endorsements increases by almost over a quarter in just 12 months as premiums jump by 25% between 2022 to 2023* IAM RoadSmart launches new campaign to bring costs down The number of young motorists aged 17-20 punished for driving without insurance has increased by more than a quarter (28%) between 2022 and 2023 and by almost 200% since 2021 according to new statistics analysed by the UK’s leading road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Read more |
For those living with a mental health illness, some normal day-to-day tasks can be a real challenge.  We have a variety of different resources and a whole page dedicated to mental health and driving and riding, along with the support of our partners, such as Mental Health Motorbike. |  |
 | Need a confidence boost out on the road? Or want to become a better driver? Why not try one of our Skills Days – these are half-day sessions, either in the morning or afternoon. Alongside an instructor, you’ll drive on a racing circuit to master the system of car control in a safe and controlled environment. Secure your space today! |
| The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) NMC has today launched an important campaign which aims to put motorcycling on the map in parliamentary constituencies in advance of the General Election. A ‘Motorcycling Matters’ manifesto and campaign website has been created by the NMC’s members, which sets out in simple terms what motorcyclists need the post-election Government to deliver for motorcycling. It presents a manifesto for a positive vision for the future of transport and the role of motorcycling within this. There are seven key themes…Read more |  |
 | Riders And Manufacturers Agree On Historic Joint Motorcycling Manifesto The main organisations representing both the riders and the motorcycle industry (ACEM, FEMA, FIM) jointly celebrate the Day of Europe by launching a manifesto addressed to European leaders, ahead of the European elections. We call on the European Institutions to actively incorporate motorcycling into the policy priorities for the 2024-2029 political mandate that will kick off with the coming European elections on 5-9 June. Read more |
| The BMF, in partnership with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), has launched a Manifesto for Motorcycling which lays out the priorities for a future government on motorcycle policy and sets out a compelling strategy to fully unlock the benefits that motorcycling can bring to the future of transport. “As a General Election looms closer, it’s important that we make clear exactly what UK motorcycling needs from government, whichever party is in power. Motorcycling needs to be recognised as a key part of the solution to achieving Net Zero targets and be facilitated as a positive low and zero polluting form of transport for commuting, logistics and leisure” said BMF Chair Jim Freeman. Read more |  |
 | SECURING YOUR BIKE Your bike is valuable… keep it safe! Motorcycles and scooters are more vulnerable to theft than cars simply because they can be more easily removed, secreted, broken up and disposed of. The recovery rate of stolen motorcycles and scooters is very low in comparison to cars and larger vehicles. To combat theft, 2Wheels London has produced some simple tips to follow: Read more |
| About Us | Become a SAM member | What members should know! |
SAM brings you more interesting reading from
the world of advanced riding and motorcycling next week!
