SAM Weekly Newsletter – 8th November 2024
Table of Contents
Editorial
Another week has passed and the mood in the motorcycling community is somewhat subdued. The future of the UK motorcycling market now faces a triple threat. Increases in business rates, employer National Insurance and finance commissions to dealers suddenly being stopped. It makes for a depressing outlook that is unlikely to change in the next 12 months. Its these challenges that are likely to impair progress to the UK Government’s target of Net Zero. As the BMF has re-stated this week:
‘…motorcycles have an important role in the UK’s wider acceleration to Net Zero, as well as the viable solution they offer to reduced congestion…’ (BMF, 2024)
Mike Abbot has written an interesting update on e-scooters, motorcycle training and rider braking skills. He also writes about the safety differences between e-scooters and e-bikes. Kevin Williams writes about talking to groups, strategies for survival and how to make the most of training events.
Elsewhere in your newsletter you can read about the the ingenious person who welded an exercise bike to an electric scooter. Yes, it was seized by the Police who warned the public about the rules on where to use e-scooters. Welding an exercise bike onto one is also not allowed!
On a ‘safer’ note, the Sidecar Guys have broken the 1997 record for riding a motorcycle and sidecar backwards. The passenger faced backwards to direct the rider and even made bacon sandwiches! All this was done on Tranfield Airfield near Morpeth, Northumberland.
Editor & Webmaster
It’s in hard time that the motorcycling community shows its resilience, marvels at the latest achievements, ensures that their bikes remain road worthy and takes the challenges of riding head on. There are a lot more interesting articles for you to enjoy. Ride safe and happy reading.
PS: SAM Club Meeting: If you weren’t at the Club meeting on Monday you missed an really interesting and informative talk from Kevin Williams. Kevin and Judy travelled from London to talk about motorcycling risks at junctions, corners and when overtaking. Presenting a clear understanding of the problems that motorcyclists face at these locations, Kevin offered very practical ways to keep us out of trouble. A great night!
Your success is our success!
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
SAM's CHRISTMAS PARTY
Treeton Miners Welfare
Next SAM Club Night
2nd December 2024
CHRISTMAS PARTY!
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
28th November 2024
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
Three friends, from three different points on the compass, have bonded in north Norfolk over a shared love of scooters, music and fashion.
They have all made very different journeys to get here – Surrey’s Cathy Stern from the ‘80s mod revival, James Quinlan from Manchester’s indie scene, and Norfolk native Peter Sampson, who didn’t own a scooter until 2015. Read more…
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves has confirmed a further one-year freeze on fuel duty in her autumn budget statement.
Speaking in the House of Commons earlier today, the Labour MP confirmed the 5p cut first instated by the previous Conservative government would remain in place too.
According to the Treasury, it’s a tax cut worth £3billion, and could save the average motorist £60 a year.
“Drivers will breathe an enormous sigh of relief after all the speculation that the 5p cut would be scrapped at the same time as pushing duty up beyond the long-term rate of 57.95p,” RAC head of policy Simon Williams said.
“It’s also worth remembering that even as of today 56% of the total price of a litre of petrol is already tax in the form of fuel duty, and the VAT that is charged on top.” Read more…
Rider 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...
11 E-scooter riders died last year, nearly all avoidable as the identified alternatives – walking, driving, taxi, public transport, not bothering, are all far safer – even cycling was found to be 3 x safer. Over 1,300 riders were injured, >400 seriously, which is considered to be significantly understated.
Half are being ridden by children – young riders below the age of 16.
E-cooters are illegal, but over 1.3 million have been sold in the UK.
They are routinely ridden on pavements with the first pedestrian death last year – a 71 year old woman knocked down and killed by a 14 year old rider. Read more…
Motorcycle Safety Update 2024 E-Scooters: See government reports. They are unnecessary, and the most hazardous form of urban travel by a margin, average age of rider is 16 years. E-Cycles are at least 3 times safer, have a smaller carbon footprint, and can carry shopping safely in panniers. 12 riders died in 2022, at least 400 serious injuries accepted as probably significantly understated. Read more…
Police have seized an electric scooter with an exercise bike fitted to it after it was spotted being ridden around Inverness.
In a post on social media, Police Scotland wrote: “Yes, that is an exercise bike welded to it. Rider reported, vehicle seized.”
The force previously warned about the use of e-scooters, external. While they can be legally purchased, it is illegal to ride them on public roads and pavements.
Police Scotland said the only place a privately owned e-scooter could be used is on private land with the agreement of the land owner. Read more
A MOTORCYCLIST has been banned from the road after police saw videos of illegal riding posted on social media earlier in the year.
North Yorkshire Police said Callum Pepper, 19, from Pickering, was banned from holding or obtaining a drivers license for six months and fined £300.
He appeared before Magistrates on October 30, the force said.
A force spokesperson said the investigation began after traffic constable Alyssa Upton saw videos posted on Instagram from Pepper’s Instagram account posted between March 18 and May 8 displaying the offences. Read more…
Adventure & Touring
Deep in the heart of Brazilian, a thousand miles from the nearest beach, lies Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a motorcyclist’s paradise in the highlands with a supernatural character steeped in local legend. I picked up a Royal Enfield Himalayan in the city of Brasilia, 150 miles south of the park, and set off in search of the Chapada’s secrets.It’s fitting that any trip to the ethereal Chapada starts in Brasilia, a city so meticulously designed in the modernist tradition, with its clean lines and curved edges, that it could have crash-landed on the spaceport set of a sci-fi movie. Locals joke that Brasilia is so well planned that anywhere in the city is 20 minutes or less away and that was true of my taxi ride from the airport to Galpao 17, a popular bikers’ haunt on the outskirts of the city where live music plays and drinks flow. Think Star Wars’ Mos Eisley, but without the scum and villainy. Read more…
Destination: Ontario. An Underrated Riding Experience
It’s been a while since I walked out of work into a dark winter evening and scraped frost off of my motorcycle seat before hopping on to brave the elements. Longer still, that I did it every night during college in the Midwest where my enthusiasm and devil-may-care attitude outweighed the fear of potential black ice lurking in the shadows. Not long after that time, I moved to California with its promise of year-round riding in the sunshine with mountains I could visit within a day to get my fix of snow if/when needed. It’s been great. I do miss the seasonality though. The moist smell of dirt and decay that you only get a few times a year on unseasonably warm fall days as the leaves begin to change color and litter the forest floor before drying to a crisp in the winter wind. I miss the silent mornings when an overnight snow storm left the landscape blanketed in a sound dampening layer of ice. I miss change. Read more…
History & Custom
Narrow Focus: A board track-inspired Harley Shovelhead from Japan
Have you noticed how photographers often favor the right-hand side of a motorcycle? Sometimes it’s because the bike’s side stand has it leaning over to the left, making it awkward to capture a good angle. Other times, it’s because the right-hand side is simply more visually appealing than the left. That’s not the case with…Read more
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
This weekend expect to see a number of firework displays and family events across #barnsley #doncaster #sheffield and #rotherham.
Friday feels like a good time to do a bit of revision.
You may cross a double-white line if necessary (provided the road is clear) to overtake someone cycling or riding a horse if they are travelling at 10 mph or less (Rule 129).leaving at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speedspassing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of spaceallowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keeping to a low speed when passing people walking in the road (for example, where there’s no pavement)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
Kevin Williams
Feedback from a group talk
Since I’m off up to Sheffield this weekend to deliver a presentation, an archive post from October 2014 is particularly relevant. Ten years ago this month I was in central London giving a talk to a motorcycle club on a weekday lunchtime – not the usual time I’m asked to talk to a group.
The brief had been this; to present something that would appeal to experienced riders as well as novices since “some of us are trained by the police to Advanced level, some have been riding for years with no training, and some are inexperienced but keen to get better”. Read more…
Survival or Control? Which is the ‘superior strategy’?
Thanks to Malc for getting me thinking about this particular question (again!) because to my mind, it explains why we’re not seeming to make much impact on bike crashes – regardless of what numbers we see when we look at the ‘killed and seriously injured statistics – and they HAVE been coming down on a mile-per-mile basis – what’s pretty obvious is that riders in 2024 continue to have the same crashes they did in 2004, 1984 and even 1964.
So what’s changed, and what’s NOT changed, about road safety generally, and motorcycle safety specifically? Read more…
Getting the most out of a training course Pt 1
These days many riders are keen to attend rider training courses with a view to improving their riding. This summer was the twenty-seventh year that I ran post-test coaching for riders, and since I started back in 1997, there’s a lot more choice in what kind of training you can book.
I’m not going to run through all the different training you can get, but you can take anything from the Enhanced Rider Scheme to Wheelie School. It’s up to you to figure out what you’d benefit from most – though I confess that beyond enhancing ‘feel’ for what the bike’s doing (something I’ve been talking you through on my TIPS on TUESDAY series) I struggle to see how wheelies would genuinely help road riding (but I’m sure someone will tell me). Read more…
Motorcycling Organsiations
IAM RoadSmart
Has it been a while since you passed your Advanced test? 
Having a well-prepared car safety kit is essential for the autumn and winter months. Here are some hints and tips on what to include:
Warm Clothing and Blankets:
As the temperature drops, and the days get shorter make sure you have some extra layers of clothing in your car. Keep a warm jacket, hat and gloves in the boot. A fleece or thermal blanket can also be a lifesaver if you get stranded. Read more…
Announcements:
Fuel duty (frozen)
IAM RoadSmart Policy and Public Affairs Manager William Porter said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to maintain the fuel duty cut, at least for now. Motorists have endured a torrid few years of high prices at the pumps and this decision will give them a much-needed boost. We separately welcome the commitment to introduce the Fuel Finder scheme by the end of 2025, which should increase pricing transparency at the pumps.” Read more…
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
National Motorcyclists Council
After the long summer Parliamentary recess, the autumn ‘term’ has started with a flurry of activity at DfT. A meeting has been held with the new Secretary of State Louise Haigh and the Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, on day one of the new session (October 7th).
Louise Haigh called in a range of organisations to kick off discussions on developing a new Road Safety Strategy, with this aimed to be the first in several years. Several safety NGOs and transport sector groups were present, with the motorcycle sector being represented by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC). The meeting focussed on broad themes rather than on specific details, though several ideas were put forward by the different bodies present. The NMC said to Ministers that several issues remained outstanding, such as work on motorcycle training and testing reform, bus lane access and the need to refresh the 2005 Government Motorcycle Strategy. The Secretary of State welcomed contributions from the groups present and said that detailed work on a wide range of safety issues would now commence. Read more…
FEMA
The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) has officially joined the European Road Safety Charter (ERSC), marking a significant step toward enhancing road safety for motorcyclists.
The ERSC, spearheaded by the European Commission, is the largest civil society platform dedicated to road safety, with over 4,000 public and private entities actively participating. Read more…
British Motorcyclists Federation
In a sign that the UK motorcycle market – especially for big 1000cc+ machines – is struggling, comes news that at least three major dealership chains went into receivership in September and October. Pidcock Motorcycles fell on 21st October, closing its Triumph and Ducati sites, and leaving its remaining BMW outlet in doubt, though there was interest for that part of the business from a potential buyer.
Nathan Jones, a partner at FRP Advisory which is administering the business, told MCN: “Pidcock is not the first retailer to struggle in challenging market conditions over the past year…While it’s unfortunate that a viable route forward for all three sites hasn’t been possible, we’re hopeful of a positive outcome for the BMW outlet.” Read more…
Matt Bishop and Reece Gilkes – better known as the Sidecar Guys – have set a new Guinness World Record…for reversing a sidecar outfit. They rode a Ural outfit 107 miles (backwards), without stopping, at Tranwell Airfield, near Morpeth in Northumberland. One of them was in control of the bike while the other sat backwards in the sidecar to direct operations. It took them 13 hours and 54 minutes, and an average of less than 10mph.
“It was great fun,” Matt Bishop told the BMF. “We refuelled as we went along and made a bacon roll on the sidecar, but we didn’t stop, even for toilet breaks. We’re putting a film together which will be out soon.” 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.
This page tell you all you need to know about tax, insurance and MOT.
Motorcycle Road Tax must be paid every year and the price depends on your engine size. To find out the rate click below:
To tax your vehicle, click on the button below:
Riding without road tax will result in a DVLA-imposed fine of £80, which can be reduced by half if paid in 28 days. However, it could result in a fine of up to £1,000 or five times the annual road tax fee if the case goes to court. Also, your vehicle may also be clamped or impounded, resulting in a fee for release. Read more…
Advanced Riding - Safeguarding our Reputation
We all enjoy meeting down at Meadowhall Retail Park, whether it be to take out an associate, go for a ride with friends or just to socialise.
As IAM and SAM members we are part of a charity that promotes road safety and it is crucial that the way we ride is in line with this aim. Public perception of how we ride is really important, as we can be part of the solution to stereotypes about motorcyclists riding dangerously and causing stress or annoyance to other motorists. We should never ride in a way that might reinforce that stereotype or cause danger to ourselves or anyone else. Every member can reflect on the impression they leave on every ride.
Group riding can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of motorcycling when it’s done responsibly. However there are also some common problems created by riding in a group:
- Allowing others to dictate your riding style: Being influenced by others in the group can lead to impulsive overtakes or riding beyond your comfort level without proper assessment of road conditions.
- Riding too fast for your experience: The fear of embarrassment or being left behind can pressure riders to exceed their capabilities, compromising safety.
- Failing to scan the road ahead: Focusing solely on the bike in front can limit your ability to anticipate hazards and react accordingly.
Remember, each time you ride in a group you are representing SAM. Enjoy yourself, be safe and leave a good impression on those you meet along the way.
CLUB MERCHANDISE
Clothing can be ordered online direct from:
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Rotherham S66 1EA
Telephone: 01709 709977
Fax: 01709 709987
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