Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 18th July 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
The sky is blue, sun is shining and our riders are meeting up to make the most of the chance to ride in fair weather!
It’s not just in the UK that motorcyclists have to fight for their rights to travel freely on the transport of their choice. In the US, quoting President Jefferson and others: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance”, biker organisations asserted that ‘victories only last as long as you continuously defend them’. Perhaps UK riders could also heed the sentiment. Government petitions may be set at such a high bar that it takes a near monumental shift in public opinion to get Ministers, Civil Servants and MPs to take notice. The lack of sufficient support from the biking community this year is only likely to see those freedoms slipping away. Like hunting, it will become the hobby of the wealthy. The wealthy are unlikely to complain! Just a thought.
Fancy a riding challenge. Look at the ‘6-in-16’ charity initiative from Egle Gerulaityte. Supporting donating equipment to Ukraine, it’s a great cause. Bikers on every type of machine and every kind of experience can support. Give it a go an let us know how you fare. See #6in16 and #MotorcycleSolidarity. There plenty of adventures stories this week, including Sam Sutherland’s (Double Dakar Rally Champion) attempt to break the round the world motor record. Whilst we can admire the bravery of such a record attempt, there is a massive amount of in-country discovery that will be missed.
In the market, KTM reported selling a record 100,000 bikes worldwide. Whilst it might sound impressive, some online writers suggest they are simply discounting old stock to help ease the company’s debt burden. The Onyx RCR, electric bike, is turning heads with a reported 65 mph in 1.5 seconds. It still has pedals and the narrow seat looks at if it would cause some challenges in riding any distance. Given the amount of time and money that UK Police are spending chasing illegal electric bikes, this may be a model most cyclists can’t handle, but no doubt some will try to ride the machine.
Every motorcycle rider should have safety at the front of their mind. This is especially true when it comes to wildlife. No matter how friendly they look, or how accommodating they can be when being fed, they are still wild. There is a tragic reminder in your newsletter this week. Another safety item reports on a study about why drivers don’t see riders. It’s more complicated than the blind driver, blame-laying myth that pervades the motorcycling community. In this week’s newsletter, there is some great advice on how to navigate junctions. The most common site of motorcycle accidents.
On a lighter note, Liz Hardy (pillioness.com), reminds us of the more romantic side of riding with tips on dating a biker. Your SAM newsletter is packed with lots more interesting content this week. 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!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
1st September 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
28th August 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” The sentiment of this quote has been shared by many, leading to it being attributed to President Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist Wendell Phillips and Irish statesman John Philpot Curran. Debating who said it is not as important as remembering and living the message.
As bikers, we have learned repeatedly that victories only last as long as you continuously defend them. A majority of States have fought for and won the right to decide whether or not to wear a helmet, yet every year, a legislature in one State or another will debate the merits of removing that right. The same fight continues for the right to repair/modify our bikes, the right to peacefully assemble with who we choose or even to wear clothing styles that reflect our lifestyle. These and other topics appear in our inboxes every week until it feels like it will never end because it does not end. Read more.
Biker Dating is Not Like Regular Dating! Here’s Why…
Biker dating can’t be THAT different from other dating, can it?
Surely the basic idea is the same.
You meet someone interesting, and go out for dinner, or a drink.
You see if you like each other.
You see what happens next.
Yep, that much is true.
This is your standard dating formula.
But add a biker to the mix, and there suddenly IS no formula.
Things are about to get a little wild.
And a whole lot more exciting.
So if you’re used to dating normal guys, hang onto your hat.
In fact, throw the hat away, and replace it with a motorcycle helmet.
Biker dating is a whole new world of fun.
If you’re bored with the old dinner-and-a-movie routine, dating a biker could be just what you need… Read more.
It’s been a hellacious 12 months for KTM, as it’s gone from one of the powerhouses of the industry, a titan of manufacturing and motorcycling, to nearly dying due to some serious financial screwups. Nearly everything was leveraged to the hilt to support an acquisition model that saw the company grow rapidly.
But it was overconsumption, and everything hit the proverbial fan when consumer spending fell, yet pricing and production didn’t fall with it.
The brand has since been saved by Bajaj, which was already producing KTM’s small-displacement motorcycles like the new 390s, and got a healthy infusion of cash to not only restart production, but also begin to pay off its creditors, and hire folks after mass layoffs. And, if you’re to believe KTM’s new CEO Gottfried Neumeister, in the short month after its saving, it’s almost immediately on the right footing. And it’s already sold more than 100,000 motorcycles this year globally. Hey, that sounds great! Read more.
In the world of electric two-wheelers, a little-known company called Onyx Motors seems to have carved out a lane all its own. Born in Los Angeles, the company built its reputation by mixing old-school design with forward-thinking tech, long before retro-inspired EVs became trendy.
The original Onyx RCR turned heads with its raw, stripped-down aesthetic and punchy electric drivetrain. It wasn’t pretending to be a motorcycle or a scooter; it was just doing its own thing, and doing it well. Now, Onyx is back with the RCR 80V, a serious upgrade that’s quicker, smarter, and even more confident in its identity.
At the heart of the new RCR is an 80V, 45Ah battery paired with a motor capable of pushing up to 18kW at peak. It’s enough to hit 65 miles per hour, with 30 coming up in just 1.7 seconds. Those are solid numbers for something that still technically has pedals. 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...
Motorcycle passenger safety and comfort is so important!
How can you enjoy the ride if you’re scared, cold or clinging on like a desperate koala?
Riding on the back of a motorcycle is an adventure, but it takes some getting used to.
You probably have a lot of questions – and that’s completely normal.
If you’re not sure about something, always speak up and ask the rider.
He wants you to be safe and comfortable, too.
The Number One Rule here is: never suffer in silence.
Because if you’re struggling with something, it can probably be fixed.
Being a motorcycle passenger should be fun and exciting, not painful or terrifying.
That’s why you absolutely need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable.
It’s easy when you know how! Read more.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the backcountry where apex predators live. Whether it’s the mountain lions that dwell in my neighborhood or my hunting grounds—where one stalked me—or the deep, dark timbers where black bears roam, you keep your head on a swivel. I’m heading up to grizzly country next week for a deep woods dirt bike fly fishing trip, and you’d best believe I’m bringing my sidearm. After all, you’re in their home, not yours.
And despite humans having egos that somehow make us believe we’re at the top of the food chain, we absolutely aren’t. Nor are these friend-shaped animals actually our friends, as their teeth, claws, and general demeanor should tell you.
But despite our big brains, humans are extremely stupid creatures and when they see something that looks warm, cuddly, and fuzzy, they tend to try and befriend it. I can’t believe I have to say this, but they shouldn’t. And it generally results in that person getting hurt, being killed, and the animal being an animal getting the sharp end of a rifle round. This is exactly the case with this motorcyclist who was killed and dragged off into the forest while riding in Europe and trying to befriend a number of bears.
Yeah, don’t do that. Read more.
Motorcyclists often say they feel invisible on the roads, and now there’s scientific proof as to why it happens.
A new study from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) shines a spotlight not just on what’s going wrong, but why it’s happening in the first place. And it’s not all bad drivers or careless riders, it’s something much deeper and more wired into our brains than we might expect.
The report, Motorcycles in the Mind’s Eye, led by researchers David Crundall, Editha van Loon, and Megan Hutchinson, digs into the psychological factors affecting how car drivers perceive (or fail to perceive) motorcyclists. The findings? Fascinating, slightly terrifying, but ultimately hopeful. Because if we can understand the mental blind spots that lead to collisions, we can start designing interventions that might finally shift the dial on motorcycle safety.
Let’s break down what the researchers discovered – and more importantly, what it means for those of us who live life on two wheels. Read more.
Adventure & Touring
Adventure travel writer and BBC contributor Egle Gerulaityte is setting out on a bold 16-day motorcycle mission across six European countries—from Malaga, Spain, to Lviv, Ukraine—to raise €10,000 for Rally 4×4 Ukraine. Her goal is to deliver a fully equipped Toyota Hilux to the Ukrainian frontlines, where mobility can mean the difference between life and death. Calling it the “6 in 16 Ride,” this journey is more than a test of endurance—it’s a rallying cry for global motorcycle solidarity. Riding her trusted Suzuki DR650 known as “Lucy,” Egle will cross historic landmarks from Guernica to the Somme before reaching war-torn Ukraine,
“Every kilometer is a question,” she says. “Will we deliver on our promises when no one’s watching?”
The ride has already raised over €4,000 through grassroots donations, with support from brands like Enduristan and Pando Moto. But beyond the immediate goal, Gerulaityte hopes riders around the world will create their own “6 in 16” challenges in solidarity. Read more.
Double Dakar Rally champion, Sam Sunderland used the Thursday of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed to launch a new round the world record attempt, backed by Red Bull and Triumph Motorcycles.
Riding a brand-new Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, distinguished by a striking Red Bull livery, Sunderland must ride across 15 countries, on five continents, and 13 time zones – to beat a time of 19 days, eight hours, and 25 minutes – a feat set back in 2002 by two-up Brits, Kevin and Julia Sanders.
Should he be successful, Sunderland will set a new record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on a motorcycle.
In order to do so, he must cover a minimum of 18,000 miles, follow a single direction around the globe, start and finish in the same place, plus touch two antipodal points – locations on earth that are diametrically opposed. Read more.
History & Custom
Sean Skinner is the Jekyll and Hyde of custom motorcycles. Sometimes he builds tidy restomods that show restraint, and other times he builds idiosyncratic machines that put his imagination on full display. This sublime Yamaha RD350 street tracker sits somewhere in the middle.
Sean runs MotoRelic as a one-man band, out of a small garage behind his house in Hamilton, Virginia, USA. This project was commissioned by a customer who had picked up a 1973 Yamaha RD350 for $350 (a proper barn find) and wanted it turned into a street tracker. Read more.
Kevin Williams
Junctions – when it all goes wrong
I’ve been talking about some terms that I really think every rider ought to be aware of, then use to become alert to the hazards of vehicles emerging from junctions. It reminded me of this particular message asking if I’d like to make use of a light-hearted eye-witness report of a non-fatal but painful SMIDSY collision at a junction. The rider was OK and was even able to give a presentation a day or two later, although he did mention that it felt like his arms and legs had been gone over with a lead pipe.
As someone who did a short ‘BASICS: Bends’ course with me Panel Man was kind enough to invite me to use his story and make any comments that could help him (and others) learn from his experience, and maybe avoid a similar trip in an ambulance. So, with no more ado, over to Panel Man to tell us what happened. Read more.
Can we trust an influencer?
“What is truth?”
— Pontius Pilate
“Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
When Pontius Pilate rhetorically asked, “what is truth?” he was wrestling with an age-old question: how do we distinguish fact from fiction? Centuries later, Mahatma Gandhi provided an elegant, if austere, answer – truth stands on its own merits.
In the modern age of social media, with YouTubers, Instagram reels, and TikTok clips all offering advice, we really need to know know we’re getting reliable guidance, whether that’s on bike setup, assessments of safety kit, or the kind of information Survival Skills has been delivering about riding techniques and hazard awareness since the mid-90s. Read more.
Here’s how to ensure a nasty SURPRISE!
✅ Subscribe to my channel: @survivalskillsuk
🥇 Join the community at www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills
Go on a group ride, follow too close in the wheeltracks of the bike ahead, remove any chance of seeing into the future. Result? Keith Code’s instinctive ‘Survival Reactions’ kick in.
The rider grabs a handful of front brake and overwhelms the front tyre’s grip.
With a better view, the rider might well have arrived at a more appropriate solution to the problem – the rider rather closer to the car took evasive action.
Who made the mistake is irrelevant and errors by other road users are a fact of life. We have to cope WHEN we encounter them. What happens in court won’t concern us if we needed the services of a mortician. This rider was incredibly lucky he fell left rather than right. Read more. Read more
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Hillards Trust Fund reflective safety livery…
The Yorkshire Blood Bike charity, Whiteknights, has announced its latest Blood Bike will be adorned with reflective, high-visibility livery thanks to a Yorkshire based grant-making Charitable Trust.
Gay and Peter Hartley’s Hillards Charitable Trust has donated £1000 to equip the voluntary service Blood Bike before it is launched into service later this month.
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes transport urgent Blood specimens, medications and donated breast milk completely free of charge to hospitals and hospitals across Yorkshire.
They have 50 volunteer motorcyclists who willingly ride through the night and at weekends to provide the service. Earlier this year, the charity, which responded to 3000 call-outs last year, received the MBE for Voluntary Groups – The 2024 Kings Award For Voluntary Service.
Regional Manager for Whiteknights West Yorkshire, Matthew Butterfield said: “We’re delighted to receive this donation from the Hillards Trust. High-visibility reflective livery on our small fleet of Blood Bike is essential for the operational safety of our volunteers and of the urgent items we transport.
“The livery will be added to a motorcycle which has been generously donated by a member of the public. We appreciate every gesture of giving we receive to enable our charity to support the care and treatment of patients in our region.
“Today we have presented the Hillards Charitable Trust with a Whiteknights Champions Award in recognition of their much needed support.”
Pictured are Whiteknights volunteer rider, Colin Barnes, Hillards Trust Secretary, Helena Wyles, and Whiteknights’ Manager, Matthew Butterfield.
#bloodbikes #Hillards www.hillardstrust.org
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
All eyes on speed as part of day of action: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? 
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “After years of challenges and obfuscation from the private parking sector, it’s good to see progress being made to protect motorists from poor practice and rogue operators, however the devil will be in the detail. It’s vital we implement the agreed national code of practice alongside a single, independent appeals system which is overseen by a scrutiny board. The application of astronomical debt recovery fees should also be banned.” Read more.
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
ACEM
Brussels (Belgium) | 8 July
The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) welcomes the vote by the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committees on the compromise amendments to the proposed End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation.
For the first time, motorcycles and other L-category vehicles are included in the EU framework for End-of-Life Vehicles. This marks a significant milestone in aligning the sector with circular economy principles and ensuring consistent treatment across vehicle categories.
The compromise amendments adopted by the committees reflect ACEM’s key advocacy priorities. All L-category vehicles, including L1e and L2e types, would now be within the scope of the regulation, helping to prevent market fragmentation and ensure regulatory coherence. The 60-month implementation period proposed by the European Commission has been maintained, providing manufacturers with the necessary time to adapt processes and systems in line with the new requirements. Read more.
Motorcycle Industries Association
MCIA has today published the new vehicle market data for the month of June 2025. This includes Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles and some other specific sectors of the wider L-Category vehicle types.
New registrations for the month of June declined by 18.6% which is very disappointing given the improving trend seen in the months of April and May. The quarter 2 (April – June) market closes at a minus 15.4% and the year to date at minus 20.1% compared to 2024.
Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA, said: “The year so far has been extremely challenging for the sector where a continuation of the economic uncertainty no doubt is creating a loss of consumer confidence, not helped by the expanding use of illegal e-bikes that continue to erode the lower end of the market. Read more.
National Motorcycle Dealers Association
“Consumer confidence continues to affect the motorcycle market” said Symon Cook, Head of National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), commenting on the latest figures published by MCIA.
New registrations in June dropped -18.6%, which is down 6.3% compared to May’s -12.3% figure. Meanwhile, the figures “year-to-date” total at -20.1%, highlighting the market as being significantly below 2024 levels.
Symon Cook concluded: “We are concerned by such a sharp decline, particularly during a period of warm weather, which typically acts as a conduit for higher motorcycle sales and registrations. This makes June’s result even more surprising and concerning for the sector.
Like the wider automotive industry, the motorcycle market faces economic uncertainty and many dealers are struggling to match the volumes seen in 2024. With Q2 closing negatively, we anticipate this month will prove to be an outlier and that the market will resume its upward trend.” Read more.
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…
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News that ‘End of Life’ (ELV) EU laws are set to be extended to motorcycles within the EU has led to several reports in the UK motorcycle media expressing concern and alarm about ELV regulations in the UK. The NMC is today clarifying the situation – that currently the UK’s own End-of-Life Vehicle regulations do not apply to motorcycles and neither will the new proposals being debated in Brussels – unless the UK decides to independently revise domestic ELV regulations.
As reported by one of the NMC’s partners in Europe, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Federations (FEMA), the European Union is developing regulations which will expand the scope of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive to include motorcycles and other L-category vehicles, as well as increase recycling targets. ELV legislation dictates how vehicles are recycled, reused, and disposed of when they reach the end of their life. New proposals will also implement stricter battery disposal rules for electric vehicles, and shift more responsibility to manufacturers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies. The UK kept the original car and van-only regulations under UK law, which were introduced several years and were retained as part of the UK’s EU-Exit process, though not in a manner known as ‘dynamic alignment’, a process rejected during EU-Exit, where the UK would have automatically adopted revisions to EU law, as happens in EEA and EFTA counties. Read more.
FEMA
The UK government changed its rules about driverless cars and wants to ‘fast track’ pilots of self-driving taxi and bus-like services.
The government was originally aiming to introduce these cars to British roads in 2026, then the date was changed to the second half of 2027. The government now says it is introducing an accelerated framework for small autonomous ‘bus and taxi like commercial services earlier.
The British National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is not happy with this decision and expresses its concerns: the Government’s proposal to ‘fast track’ pilots of self-driving taxi and bus-like services could risk compromising motorcycle safety unless the Autonomous Vehicles Act and its key ‘Statement of Safety Principles’ is fully implemented first. Read more.
British Motorcyclists Federation
Driverless Car Technology Must Take Full Account of Motorcyclists
Self Driving taxis must not be ‘Fast Tracked’ until a full set of motorcycle focussed safety principles are in place as part of Autonomous Vehicles Act.
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today expressing its concern that the Government’s proposal to ‘fast track’ pilots of self-driving taxi and bus-like services could risk compromising motorcycle safety unless the Autonomous Vehicles Act and its key ‘Statement of Safety Principles’ is fully implemented first.
This month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, announced that ‘the government will fast-track pilots to spring 2026, introducing self-driving commercial pilots on England’s roads.
Firms will be able to pilot small scale ‘taxi- and bus-like’ services without a safety driver for the first time – which could be available to members of the public to book via an app – before a potential wider rollout when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027.’ Read more.
Motorcycle Action Group
🏍️ From Coffee to Cabinet: How Professional Advocacy Gets Results
Last month, our Cumbria Regional Rep Michael Armstrong sat down for coffee with his local MP Josh MacAlister. This week, MacAlister was discussing motorcycle licensing reform directly with the Roads Minister.
This weekend, a second MP will be attending our Dead End Rally.
This is what sophisticated political advocacy looks like – patient relationship-building that gets motorcycling issues heard at the highest levels of government.
✅ Strategic questions planted in June
✅ Ministerial meetings in July
✅ MP coordination across constituencies
✅ Politicians attending MAG events
While other approaches make noise, MAG builds the relationships that create real influence. Every conversation, every meeting, every new member strengthens the voice that’s already being heard in Westminster.
Many hands make light work – there’s a role for every rider in this vital work. Read the full story
#MotorcyclePolitics #MAG #RiderRights #PoliticalAdvocacy
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.
You don’t enjoy the same level of protection as other motorists. When you crash, you’ve not got the luxury of airbags, side impact protection systems, seatbelts, or head restraints.
All you’ve got to protect you is your riding gear.
Look after your helmet and it will look after you!
You must wear a safety helmet that meets British Safety Standards with the chin strap fasten when riding a motorcycle or moped on the road.
Never buy a second-hand helmet – it will have moulded itself to someone else’s head It may look fine, but it is not always possible to spot damage from drops and crashes. Read more.