Motorcycling is in a fascinating place right now: part performance showcase, part practical transport, and part cultural movement. This week’s stories show a market that is still healthy enough to support ultra-exclusive machines from Ducati, KTM and Bimota, while entry-level brands like QJMotor are fighting hard for new riders with learner-legal 125s.
That mix matters. At the top end, halo bikes keep the dream alive and prove there is still demand for engineering theatre. At the bottom end, affordable, accessible models decide whether the next generation joins the sport at all. In between, the industry is wrestling with a very real problem: not enough technician apprentices to keep workshops, dealers and after-sales support strong. This affects ordinary riders who will find it harder to source local help, increased costs from dealers having to pay to retain staff and increased waiting times for services.
Safety remains the thread running through everything. Harley-Davidson’s large recall is a reminder that even the biggest names can face serious mechanical problems, and that brake systems demand constant attention. For riders, the lesson is simple: recall notices are not paperwork to ignore, but a direct part of staying safe on the road.
Beyond the machines, motorcycling still has a strong social side. Guide Dogs asking riders to help socialise puppies is a good example of the community value bikes can create, while the break-in at Norfolk Motorcycle Museum shows how fragile our heritage can be. Racing adds another layer, with Josh Brookes heading back to the North West 200, Michael Dunlop’s TT preparation still in focus, and Barry Sheene’s legacy honoured at Goodwood.
There is also momentum in events and apparel, from Indian Motorcycle’s Brooklands rally to Merlin’s UK expansion. Taken together, the picture is clear: motorcycling is growing, changing and becoming more complex, but it still depends on the same core ingredients of passion, safety, skill and community.
Whatever you ride and wherever your travel, ride safe and happy reading.
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The past seven days have underlined a familiar tension in motorcycling: rapid product innovation and market expansion set against persistent safety, regulatory and public-perception challenges. For young UK riders, the message is clear—opportunity is growing, but scrutiny is tightening.
The most significant hard news this week comes from Harley-Davidson, which has recalled nearly 17,000 Softail models over a rear brake defect that could lead to total brake failure. The issue stems from a brake line rubbing against a control module, risking fluid leakage and loss of braking performance. Crucially, the company has halted shipments and will begin repairs in May, highlighting how seriously manufacturers are now treating safety risk and liability.
This sits alongside continued real-world reminders of rider vulnerability. A serious motorcycle collision in Ireland left a rider in his 20s with severe injuries, reinforcing the ongoing safety narrative around road risk, particularly for younger riders.
Policing, behaviour and the e-bike crossover problem
Globally, enforcement pressure is intensifying around anti-social riding. Police in Australia this week cracked down on groups performing stunts and evading officers on motorcycles and modified e-bikes, describing offenders as “road pests”.
While not UK-specific, it reflects a trend already flagged by the Motorcycle Industry Association, which recently called for coordinated national action on illegal e-bikes—machines that blur the line between bicycles and motorcycles and risk dragging legitimate riders into broader enforcement measures.
For younger riders, this matters: behaviour on two wheels—regardless of engine type—is increasingly shaping legislation and public opinion.
New bikes and global market momentum
On the product front, the industry continues to chase younger and emerging-market riders. BMW Motorrad has opened bookings for its new F 450 GS, signalling continued growth in the lightweight adventure segment—a category that’s becoming a gateway for newer riders worldwide.
This aligns with broader data showing strong growth in adventure bikes, with UK demand rising sharply in 2026 as riders favour versatility and everyday usability.
Meanwhile, the racing world continues to evolve. The 2026 MotoGP World Championship is not only the final year of the current 1000cc era but also introduces the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup—an unconventional but commercially driven move to broaden audience appeal.
Industry growth vs. identity questions
Behind the headlines, the industry is expanding—but also redefining itself. From electric platforms like Honda’s new-generation bikes to experimental concepts such as self-balancing machines highlighted in recent UK media coverage, manufacturers are pushing technology fast.
Yet the cultural question remains: how far can motorcycling evolve before it loses the raw, mechanical appeal that draws young riders in the first place?
Safety is under intense scrutiny, with recalls and crash reporting shaping public perception.
Rider behaviour—especially around urban riding and e-bikes—is influencing future regulation.
Entry-level and mid-capacity bikes are booming, creating more accessible routes into riding than ever before.
For new riders, that means more choice—but also more responsibility. The industry is opening doors, but it’s watching closely who walks through them.
Congratulations to Dean Armitage on passing the IAM Advanced Rider Test. Also, our grateful thanks to Observer Stephen Bennett for the training support.
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
Your FREE Biker I.C.E. Fill it in, keep it updated, when needed just hand it over to health care staff.
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7.30pm Treeton Miners Welfare Club
Arundel Road
Treeton
Rotherham S60 5PW
It’s the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Come along to have your say and hear our plans for the coming year. There’s FOOD!!!
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
See SAM website calendar for more details.
30th April 2026
Online Zoom Meeting
Details to be circulated
The daughter of a biking friend ignored warnings not to hire a scooter due to not having a licence and decided to rent one anyway, which led to her falling off and suffering a small amount of gravel rash.
Fortunately, she was wearing full-length jeans at the time of the accident, which likely reduced the severity of her injuries, as opposed to wearing shorts or a skirt.
In contrast, a work colleague of another friend of Kevin Williams was not as fortunate, as she required a skin graft and spent weeks in a local hospital after being involved in a similar accident, highlighting the potential risks and consequences of renting a scooter without proper licensing or experience. Read more
This post debunks the myth that motorcycles turn primarily through body leaning, explaining that counter-steering is the actual mechanism for initiating lean and direction changes. At road speeds, a rider must briefly steer the front wheel away from the intended turn (e.g., pushing the left handlebar to turn left) to “trip” the bike into a lean.
Key takeaways include:
The Mechanism: Steering input creates roll, which leads to lean, ultimately determining the turn radius. This is driven by tyre contact patch displacement rather than just gyroscopic forces.
Common Mistakes: Riders often struggle by “stiff-arming” or leaning their weight on the bars. Effective steering requires a relaxed posture—flexible elbows and a light grip—to allow the bike’s geometry to work.
Safety & Mindset: Mastering deliberate counter-steering provides “lean on demand,” allowing riders to override survival instincts during emergencies. It is a critical risk-management tool for maintaining time and space on the road. Read more
The Gulf Crisis is having a significant impact on the transportation sector, particularly in the adoption of electric motorcycles, also known as eMotos.
The crisis is accelerating the move towards eMotos as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
As a result of the Gulf Crisis, there is a growing trend towards the use of eMotos, which is expected to continue in the coming years as more people seek out eco-friendly transportation options.
The shift towards eMotos is also driven by the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Gulf Crisis has created an opportunity for the eMotos industry to grow and expand, with many companies investing in the development and production of electric motorcycles.
The adoption of eMotos is not only beneficial for the environment, but also provides a cost-effective and efficient mode of transportation, making it an attractive option for consumers.
Overall, the Gulf Crisis has accelerated the move towards eMotos, and it is likely that this trend will continue as the world becomes increasingly focused on sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation solutions. Read more
Seeing a threat where none (really) exists
In this series, I’ve almost always used video shot from my own machine, with commentary added later, when I’ve had time to think about what happened. That probably puts me in a minority as most other videos feature live commentary. That may give a more ‘in the moment’ feel since reactions are immediate, but they are also unfiltered, which can be good…
…or possibly not.
Here are three stills from a video that recently surfaced on my feed. We need to be aware that wide angle on-bike cameras make vehicles look further off than they really are, but the rider’s comment was: “nicely done Sir. That car pulled right out in front of me”.
Was it really that bad?
By the time the bike reached the point where there COULD have been a collision, the car is on the other side of the painted island. The rider didn’t have to touch the brakes, didn’t even roll off the throttle, but kept moving without interruption.
The Highway Code’s Prime Directive is “don’t make anyone else change speed or direction to avoid you”. No braking. No swerving. No impact at all on the rider. In reality, “nothing much happened”.
So why call out the driver for “pulling out” on the bike?
Because as riders, we’re not responding to what did happen — we’re reacting to what briefly looked like MIGHT have happened. That’s what the our brain flags up.
It’s a built-in survival system doing its job, but since the commentary is real time, it reflects that little spike of tension even as the rider decides there’s no threat to react to. The words flow from the verbal side of our brain before it has time to catch up with the threat assessment side.
My bet is that had it been the rider turning right around the island ahead of the car, I doubt that the commentary would have been “I cut that a bit fine”. Read more
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The results of my short‑form content experiment are in. Although I usually write long‑form articles, I’m often told they’re “too long” or “didn’t read”. Others have suggested that short, tweet‑length posts would boost engagement and help draw readers toward my longer pieces. After looking into the advice — including Hootsuite’s claim that posts of around 150 characters get the most clicks — I decided to test the theory myself.
For two weeks, I published a daily series of ultra‑short posts built around my “myth, mechanism, mistake, method, mindset, margin” structure, leading up to my usual long‑form Tuesday TIPS. Compressing complex ideas into fewer than 300 characters was difficult; nuance inevitably disappears, and the risk of misinterpretation rises. Still, I aimed to be as accurate and watertight as possible.
The experiment certainly increased reach: views rose to ten times my normal level, and comments multiplied. But most responses weren’t the thoughtful engagement I’d hoped for. Instead, the posts travelled widely but sank into distortion, oversimplification and noise.
Some accused the posts of clickbait; others claimed the ideas were obvious, unnecessary, incomplete, or instinctive. A few agreed. A handful resorted to insult. Overall, the format generated attention — but not understanding. Read more
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Added to our training work we train NHS Blood Bikers, support other charities, promote motorcycling as a cost-effective, eco-friendly urban transport solution. We also provide public education on the role of motorcycling in our community. Meet us, 9am any Saturday at Meadowhall Retail Park, Attercliffe Road, Sheffield S9 2YZ. You can help us by advertising your services in our newsletter, sponsoring young riders and sharing this newsletter. Sponsors/advertisers should email: sam-editor@iam-sheffield.bike with ‘Sponsorship’ or ‘Advertiser’ in the subject line. Thank you for your support.
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Riding a motorcycle comes with risks. In an accident, motorcyclists’ injuries are likely to be more serious than those of other road users. To reduce these risks, the Biker I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) Card is a simple but essential tool for riders. It’s easy to use and convenient to carry. It can be folded to fit in your wallet and handed to anyone who needs it, not just accident responders.
The Biker I.C.E. Card contains all necessary information. It has contact information, important health, medical and doctor’s details, a list of medications and your doctor’s contact. If you’re in an accident, emergency services can use the card to quickly understand your health and medical needs t0 provide you with the best care possible.
Just fill in your email address below. We will keep you updated of any design changes. The card is given as FREE public service that you can use and share as many times as you like. You simply add details like your NHS or travel insurance numbers, as these can help emergency responders access your healthcare records or handle costs when travelling abroad.
Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists, well known for our quality assured advanced rider training, support the use of this card. It can be a critical safety tool. While training improves road safety, the card ensures you get the right help should things go wrong.
Download your Biker I.C.E. Card NOW, for safer rides and peace of mind!
