We are cooking on gas! SAM’s dedicated volunteer Observers have really worked hard this week with two more Associates passing their IAM Advanced Rider Test. It’s a tribute to these selfless motorcyclists take time and fund their own training, to become Advanced Rider trainers. Throughout the year, they help bikers in our community to become more knowledgeable, safer riders. We salute every one.
We do have a small number of Associates on our waiting list. Our Observers have to go on their riding holidays too! Our Chief Observer and the Training Group are working to ensure that each Associate gets the bespoke riding guidance they need. Yes, it’s 1:1 training and guidance, with extra support when it is needed.
The motorcycling world continues to rebound from its downturn last year. The signs are positive that many more people are recognising the role of the eco-friendly, affordable and rapid personal transport offered by a motorcycle.
Congratulations to Jamie Chester on passing his IAM Advanced Rider Test with a F1rst. Thank you to volunteer Observer Dave Lindford for providing guidance and training.
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
Fill it in, keep it updated, when needed just hand it over to health care staff.
No delay, no sharing of data with private health companies, it’s YOURS, keep it safe!
Weekly Motorcycle Briefing: The Week in Riding, Racing and the Motorcycle Industry
The past seven days have reinforced a trend that has defined motorcycling throughout 2026: the industry is balancing innovation and growth ambitions against increasing scrutiny over safety, regulation and market performance.
MotoGP arrives at Mugello this weekend with one of the most unpredictable championship battles in years. Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi heads into his home Grand Prix carrying momentum and growing expectations after a strong opening phase of the season. Ducati remains the benchmark in outright performance, but Aprilia and Honda continue to demonstrate that the competitive gap has narrowed significantly compared with previous seasons. Official MotoGP reports from Mugello show Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio facing intense pressure ahead of one of the fastest and most technically demanding circuits on the calendar.
Away from the racetrack, Harley-Davidson remains under the spotlight. The American manufacturer announced its new “Back to the Bricks” strategy, a plan designed to restore profitability, strengthen its core motorcycle business and improve long-term financial performance. Harley says the programme aims to rebuild volumes while targeting significant earnings growth through 2027. The move comes as many traditional manufacturers face challenging economic conditions and changing customer demographics.
At the same time, Harley-Davidson has been managing a series of significant recalls. US regulators announced a recall affecting approximately 88,000 motorcycles because a blocked breather port could allow excessive crankcase pressure to build up. Earlier reports also highlighted a separate recall involving nearly 17,000 Softail models over concerns relating to rear brake line wear. These developments serve as another reminder that safety remains one of the industry’s most important responsibilities.
Technology continues to advance rapidly. New academic research published this week highlighted emerging Advanced Rider Assistance Systems specifically designed for motorcycles. Researchers demonstrated systems capable of analysing road hazards, surface conditions and rider risks using vision-language artificial intelligence models. Although still experimental, the work points toward a future in which motorcycles may gain safety technologies approaching the sophistication already found in modern cars.
Further research released this week focused on understanding rider behaviour through multimodal data collection. Using helmet cameras, eye-tracking equipment and vehicle telemetry, researchers are developing datasets intended to improve future rider-safety systems and accident-prevention technologies. The project reflects growing recognition that motorcycles require dedicated safety solutions rather than adaptations of automotive technology.
Product development also shows no signs of slowing. Manufacturers continue to preview and launch new-generation machines ahead of the next major show season. Recent first rides and launch reports have highlighted new models from Triumph, Norton, Suzuki and Moto Morini, while adventure-bike development remains especially active as brands compete in one of the industry’s strongest market sectors.
In the UK, political discussion surrounding motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes is also gathering pace. Proposed regulatory changes covering licensing, safety and urban transport continue to generate debate among riders, manufacturers and transport campaigners. While few measures are finalised, the direction of travel suggests governments are paying increasing attention to two-wheeled transport as cities seek solutions for congestion, emissions and mobility.
Taken together, the week’s developments paint a picture of an industry in transition. Racing remains fiercely competitive, manufacturers are investing heavily in future products, safety technology is advancing quickly and policymakers are becoming more involved in the future of two-wheeled transport. For riders, that means motorcycling in 2026 is changing rapidly—but it remains every bit as exciting as ever.
IMPORTANT! July Club Night – Awaiting update
7.30pm Treeton Miners Welfare Club
Arundel Road
Treeton
Rotherham S60 5PW
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
To be arranged
Online Zoom Meeting
Details to be circulated
Understanding Cause and Effect
When we look at road safety, a vital concept to grasp is that “correlation does not imply causation”.
In a causal relationship, one process (the cause) is directly responsible for the second process (the effect). Crucially, the link can be demonstrated.
A correlation occurs when the change in one variable is also seen in a second variable – the two sets of data appear to follow each other.
The Core Skills Series — The ‘M6’ Framework 1
I’m just about half way through a new series on the Core Skills we need to ride a motorcycle well. You may have wondered where the six-part Myth – Mechanism -Mistake – Method – Mindset – Margin came from. Let’s call it the M6 framework for short. The simple answer is that I became frustrated at reading better biking articles that often left me hanging with questions or investigating a topic in a book and being forced to cross-reference with other sections. I wanted to formalise a repeating structure that is valid across different areas of motorcycling knowledge and learning, and the Myth – Method etc offered a common framework. Let’s call it the M6 framework for short. Read more
34SP.com supports our charity with FREE web hosting. Over many years they have consistently provided WordPress updating, advice on hosting management and technical advice. The company makes ongoing efforts to reduce the digital carbon footprint, noting that high web traffic significantly impacts emissions. To combat this, their Manchester data centre utilizes renewable energy and follows circular IT practices through hardware recycling.Beyond infrastructure, they invest in ancient woodland restoration and global climate projects via Ecologi. These efforts are independently verified by The Green Web Foundation, aiding clients’ ESG reporting. Furthermore, the company integrates social sustainability as a Living Wage employer, blending environmental conservation with ethical local business practices to provide greener hosting solutions.
YOUR registered charity can benefit from FREE web hosting too!
“Great bunch of people. Improved my riding skills to another level. Their training is very much based on keeping the rider safe” Stephen
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.
Google provides approved Non-Profit organisations with Google Workspace apps. This help SAM’s Trustees to manage communication, meetings and supports our advanced motorcycle training and education to increase road safety. We also support our advanced riders to become volunteer NHS Blood Bikers.
© 2026 Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists. All rights reserved. All content in this newsletter, including text, graphics, and images, is protected by UK copyright law. We gratefully acknowledge the copyright of original publishers and creators for any third-party materials featured. All such materials are used with implied permission, from online publicly shareable URLs, or under fair dealing rules on information, education and public interest. Any such content is used solely for our purposes to educate and inform our readers. Material from other providers is not not used for any commercial purpose. All URLs link directly to copyright holders. The correctness and truthfulness of all such content is the sole responsibility of those providers No part of this publication may be reproduced or shared without prior written consent from the respective copyright holders.Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1089671).
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!
