Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

Table of Contents

Editorial

So long as time still only moves in one direction, Christmas will arrive next week. Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists wishes everyone a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Times are hard and there are many people who are struggling this year. If you know someone having a hard time, just help where you can in any way that you can. Thank you.

🏍️ The Week in Two Wheels: Big Deals, A2 Chat and New Bikes

It’s been another fast-paced seven days in the motorcycle world. We’ve seen huge discounts hit the UK market, important discussions about rider licensing, and new models getting attention – especially relevant if you’re on an A1 or A2 licence.

Bargains, Bargains, Bargains Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

The biggest news this week is the massive dealer discounts hitting the sales floor. If you’re looking for a serious bit of kit, a few premium models are seeing huge price drops, likely due to updated 2026 versions arriving soon:

  • Electric Shock: An unregistered, 0-mile Zero DSR/X electric adventure bike is on offer with a massive £7,010 off, bringing the price down to £9,990. This shows electric bikes are becoming more accessible as the market shifts.

  • Sporty Savings: For those with a full licence, a brand new MV Agusta Superveloce 800 has a £5,200 discount, dropping it to£18,000 (Source: Bennetts Insurance).

While these specific deals are for bigger bikes, they signal a buyer’s market for premium machines, meaning you might find better deals on used, smaller-capacity bikes as owners trade up.

The Licensing Lowdown (Political Update) 🇬🇧

For new and young riders, the ongoing discussion about UK motorcycle licensing is key. While no immediate law changes were announced this week, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) continues to push for a review of the current system.

The goal? Making the licensing process (like the CBT, A1, A2, and A tests) simpler, cheaper, and less bureaucratic (Source: MCIA, National Motorcyclists Council). The government is open to reform, aiming to balance road safety with making motorcycling an easier, greener transport option. You may soon see a system that rewards progressive training more than just repeat tests. Don’t hold your breath. The ‘Integrated Transport Strategy’ has been pushed back to next year. The ‘consultation’ of ‘bilateral meetings, focus groups, call-for-ideas and Regional Roadshows’, included ‘meetings with motorcycle representative groups’. The time and money put into the process doesn’t seem, at this point, to have recognised the social and economic role that motorcycles play in the UK today. Watch this space.

Future Wheels: New Models and Reviews 💡

The rumour mill is spinning with news of exciting bikes, perfect for when you move up from a 125cc:

  • CFMOTO’s Attack: CFMOTO is seriously upping its game. Their all-new, learner-legal 125NK street machine is getting attention for its aggressive style and tech, priced at £2,999. They are also building hype with a race-inspired 675SR-R concept (Source: CFMOTO Motorcycles UK).

  • The Adventure A2: BMW’s new F450GS is coming in four variants, priced from £6,990. Crucially for 18-year-olds, it’s an A2-friendly 48hp machine, offering a fantastic step-up adventure option (Source: Lexham Insurance). This shows manufacturers are building better, higher-spec bikes specifically for the A2 category.

  • Recall Warning: Heads up on safety! KTM 390 and Husqvarna 401 models have been recalled due to an ECU issue. Always check for recalls if you’re buying a second-hand bike (Source: Motorcycle.com).

Marketing Focus: Safety First 🚧

There’s a continuing push on rider safety, especially for new riders. Campaigns like “THINK!” encourage drivers to be more aware of bikes. However, there’s also a focus on you taking control:

  • Gear Check: Campaigns are reminding young riders that proper gear is essential. A few years ago, Highways England ran a hard-hitting campaign, using a “Distressed” clothing brand to highlight the potential injuries from not wearing protective kit—a message that’s still relevant today, as young riders are statistically more at risk (Source: GOV.UK).

In short, whether you’re hunting for a deal, watching the new A2 bikes launch, or keeping an eye on political changes, the motorcycle world is moving fast.

The milder weather means we have some great days ride to our favourite haunts, or explore somewhere new. Your newsletter this week has an amazing variety of articles to suit every motorcyclists’ interest. Wherever you go this festive season, ride safe, happy reading and remember to help those less fortunate. Merry Christmas everyone.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025


The next SAM Committee Meeting will be on the 29th January 2026. The next SAM Club Night will be on the 2nd February 2026. Weekly Saturday meetings, at Meadowhall Retail Park, will continue to take place, but watch the SAM website Calendar (it’s on the front page!) for any changes. Your SAM Weekly Newsletter will drop into your inbox each week as usual. Ride safe and happy reading.

Your success is our success!

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

Very well done to Andy Braithwate, achieving a F1RST class advanced rider test pass. Also, to volunteer Observer Aidan Latham for the dedicated rider development support given on behalf of the SAM charity.

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
2nd February 2026

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
29th January 2026
Details to be arranged

Online Motorcycling News

General

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Motorcyclists across Europe are set to feel the impact of a major policy shift after a senior EU lawmaker confirmed the bloc will abandon its planned 2035 effective ban on new internal combustion engines.

The change replaces the previously proposed 100% CO₂ reduction target with a softer 90% requirement, easing immediate pressure on sales of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, including motorcycles.

The move was confirmed to German tabloid Bild by Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party.

“For new registrations from 2035 onwards, a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions will now be mandatory for car manufacturers’ fleet targets, instead of 100%,” Weber told the newspaper. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 The future may be electric but at present, the technology has one major drawback – recharge times.Now though, Spanish start-up BBM Motorcycles say they’ve solved this stumbling block, launching their inaugural model with the claim that it can fill its 12.96kWh battery (to 80% at least) in just 15 minutes flat.

Called the Hiro, the bike churns out a claimed 93.9bhp and 110lb.ft of torque and delivers a range of around 220km (136.7 miles) between charges, while being capable of an ultra-quick top-up thanks to the use of DC Fast Charging – which makes it one of the few motorcycles on the market to have this compatibility.

At the fastest charging stations, we’re told riders will be able add 62 miles range in just nine minutes. On a domestic setup, the same 80% charge takes 78 minutes from a Type 2 AC charger (the sort of EV charger most homes have), or 2h40 from a 220V plug socket. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 If you grew up on a diet of Back to the Future hoverboards, The Rocketeer’s jetpack antics, and Anakin absolutely sending it on a podracer, something like this was probably inevitable: a “flying motorcycle” you can park in a normal garage and fly without a pilot’s license.

That’s the promise behind the LEO Solo JetBike, a new personal eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) from Indiana-based LEO Flight that trades exposed rotors for 48 ducted electric microjets and just enough low-altitude freedom to make your inner 12-year-old very loud.

But under the sci-fi gloss, the Solo is actually pretty modest on paper, which is part of what makes it interesting. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Urban Moto has become the official distributor of Rieju’s Hard Off-road (Enduro) range in the UK, which includes two new models.

So far Rieju has struggled to make a big impact in the UK, but Urban Moto is now taking on the challenge of trying to sell more of its enduro machines.

That also means Urban Moto will receive Rieju’s new single-cylinder Aventura Rally 307 and Rally 307R models, both of which will land in the UK from January.

Pre-orders can already be made for both motorcycles, with the Rally 307 priced at £4,599. The R variant is the more performance-focused model, which gets Michelin Tracker tyres and a sharper, more sport graphic design. The 307R will be available for £4,999.

Both bikes feature the Spanish brand’s 293cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that delivers 33bhp and 20 Ib-ft of torque. It is paired with a six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 FairFuelUK urges government to “follow the EU” with petrol and diesel ban
As the EU is reported to be pushing back the petrol and diesel ban, FairFuelUK wants the UK to do the same

News from the EU suggests the planned petrol and diesel ban on new vehicles is being pushed back from 2035 to 2040. It is a rare flash of common sense in a debate usually steered by targets, not reality.

FairFuelUK immediately called on the UK to follow suit, scrap the 2030 deadline, and stop turning private transport into a financial punishment for normal people. Read more

Rider Health & Safety

It's FREE! from Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Ride safe.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... 

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Share live video with emergency services to get the help you need.

Launching today, Android Emergency Live Video helps you share vital visual information with emergency services in a single tap. Read more

 

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 A community motorcycle project that has helped hundreds of teenagers to stay away from crime is fighting for survival following the theft of four Honda CRF125s.

RAMP – the Richmond Area Motorcycle Project, based at Risedale School in Catterick Garrison – discovered the break-in over the weekend of 6–7 December. Five bikes were taken in total; a smaller machine was later found abandoned in nearby woodland, but the four CRF125s remain missing. For a volunteer-run scheme that relies on grants and donations, the loss is obviously severe. Read more

Adventure & Touring

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 From seeing the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route in a movie theater, to becoming one of the characters in the next BDR, Inna Thorn brings you this engaging, behind-the-scenes report of her off-pavement motorcycle adventure through Arizona’s backcountry.

• How it all Started
As I sat in the theater at the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route movie premiere, watching a group of guys having the time of their lives riding adventure motorcycles in the majestic Colorado high country, I suddenly realized how much I missed experiencing the world on two wheels.

In 2008, my boyfriend and I quit our jobs and set off on a motorcycle adventure from Seattle to Ushuaia. For six months we tasted the world, mile by mile, as we traveled aboard our Kawasaki KLR 650s. Riding about 20,000 miles, we crossed 13 countries exploring some of the most remote and legendary places in the Southern hemisphere. Something inside us changed on that trip—we had the adventure bug.

A lot has happened since. We got married. My passion for adventure motorcycling guided my career, and I joined Touratech-USA. In 2011 our son was born. Motherhood and parenting consumed my life. Coming out of a year-long maternity leave, I welcomed the opportunity to work for the Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) as manager of the non-profit organization. The organization’s goal is to provide resources and inspire people to explore the backcountry by motorcycle.

That evening the COBDR movie reawakened my yearning for adventure. Motherhood aside, life on the road seemed so alluring again, but was it realistic? During the question and answer period afterwards, I asked if they’d consider having a woman in the next film? A week later, I was invited to join the BDR scouting team for the Arizona BDR documentary. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Author and architect Elspeth Beard joins hosts David Prutton and Iwan Thomas to discuss being the first British woman to ride a motorcycle around the world.

Beard rode around the world on two wheels from 1982-1984, riding more than 35,000 miles on her solo trip, at a time when riders didn’t have any motorcycle aids or sat navs. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Stark Future and Swiss rider Jiri Zak have set a new Guinness high-altitude world record* aboard the Stark Varg EX electric enduro, pushing an electric dirt bike higher than any motorcycle has officially gone before.

Zak and the Stark team reached 6,721 metres on Los Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest active volcano. They did it riding a completely stock Varg EX.To keep the numbers watertight, the team calibrated and certified all GPS equipment on Thursday, November 27. Zak made his run on Sunday, November 30, hitting the planned altitude without drama. The final figure will be confirmed once certified GPS logs, witness statements, and supporting data go through independent verification. Read more

History & Custom

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Rough Crafts has mastered the art of building formidable custom motorcycles that are swathed in obsidian hues. But the Taiwanese outfit knows how to play with color when the occasion calls for it.

Their latest release is a sharp BMW R 12 nineT street tracker that borrows its color palette from a custom-built safari-style Porsche 911. Both the car and the motorcycle belong to GrowthRing & Supply Co. (or GRS)—a streetwear label headquartered in Hong Kong. Read more

Kevin Williams

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 In today’s show… woman found guilty of murder after deliberate hit-and-run… ITV star given points & fine after hitting scooter rider… Coroner’s Court hears how police rider died after losing control on a blue light run… in brief – news from the UK and around the world… new style roller barriers… NZ Transport Agency removes flawed ‘bacon slicer’ barrier after a year… ‘unlimited mileage’ Norton warranty lasts 3 years… Peugeot bring back 103 step-through with electric power… QJMotor revive the middleweight V4… in-depth today – are Chinese manufacturers starting to replay the Honda – Yamaha war of the late 70s & early 80s? Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 [Based on an item in yesterday’s Elevenses live webcast]

According to a story that dropped into my inbox last week:

“The government’s latest road-casualty figures released this morning confirm a grim reality: motorcyclist deaths are rising, despite years of warnings from road-safety specialists.”

And the data should “shock politicians, drivers and policymakers out of complacency”.

So says a road safety specialist. The rise isn’t a mystery either, but apparently:

“…the result of a culture that treats motorcyclists as an afterthought. Motorcyclists aren’t invisible because they can’t be seen. They’re invisible because drivers aren’t actually looking. Every week I see cases where a basic lifesaver glance may have prevented a devastating collision.” Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Fight the Fear; Riding in the Zone

Something over one hundred years ago psychologists Robert M. Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson suggested that performance in a task increases with physiological or mental arousal. And what’s become known as ‘the Zone’ is the sweet spot that where our level of arousal, alertness or stress is just right for good performance.

We’re alert but not anxious. Focused but not tense. Energised but still thinking clearly. Aware of risk but not consumed by it. It’s the level of arousal where brain and body are working together efficiently. Athletes call it flow. Riders call it a good day on the bike. Tasks feel easier, decisions feel smoother and we respond to complex situations without overthinking. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Have two million bikes been dumped in the US?

“IT’S HAPPENING: 2 Million Motorcycles DUMPED – Used Market COLLAPSE Exposed!”

That was the headline on a YouTube channel with just over 6000 subscribers. The video appeared last Friday (Dec 5) and by this morning had collected more than 600k views.

The voiceover paints a grim picture of Harley-Davidson dealerships that would normally “be buzzing… but today, nothing. Just empty showrooms and bikes that haven’t moved in 11 months.”

That picture, apparently, is “happening across America right now” and “two million motorcycles that can’t find buyers. It sounds impossible until you see the numbers”.

And the commentary continues by explaining where this figure of two million came from:

“When you add up unsold new inventory sitting at dealerships, the flood of used bikes hitting the market from pandemic buyers trying to sell, and the tsunami of repossessed motorcycles being dumped at wholesale auctions, industry analysts estimate we’re looking at over 2 million motorcycles that can’t find buyers, 2 million bikes looking for homes that don’t exist.” Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Searching the Survival Skills archive of old posts

I’ve been sharing my tips for better biking online for well over twenty years. It’s hard to believe my first column in the old MAG magazine ‘Streetbiker’ was published in 2002. And even my Facebook page dates back to 2011! But I began to use it regularly in 2013, and by 2014 had some regular series running including ‘TIPS on TUESDAY’ and ‘SKILLS on SATURDAY’ which – as the titles suggest – were weekly series. And there was also a less-frequent ‘FOCUS on FRIDAY’ series in which I looked at a topic concerned with how we learn in more depth on an occasional basis.

But if there are two HUGE problems with Facebook and its ‘timeline’ approach to posts, the first is ‘blink and it’s gone’. Even if you follow and subscribe to my page, unless you happen to log in to your own page at just the right moment, my daily posts will have slithered out of sight to be replaced by who-knows-what. The second is that Facebook lacks a decent search facility for old posts. There IS a search option but it’s not so easy to use. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Good advice is always certain to be ignored…”

So said Agatha Christie, a remark one might say sits comfortably in the category of ‘painfully accurate things we wish weren’t true’. It actually captures a fundamental truth behind human behaviour: advice is often ignored not because it is wrong, but because it conflicts with habit, ego, incentives, or timing. In that sense she was realistic rather than pessimistic. Most people only act on advice once it aligns with a problem they already feel, sometimes even when the advice comes from someone who in theory at least they should perceive as credible.

And it might have been written with us in mind; if anything, motorcycling with its baked-in cultural variety seems to amplify this dynamic. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 “On-road, our job isn’t finding the limit of grip…”

…but to stay well within it.

A recently launched new tyre apparently offers not just “a brand-new tread pattern”, but with the “100% Silica Technology”, the rider is going to feel “15% more wet grip” than with its predecessor. And it’s true. Modern sport tyres are almost witchcraft compared with the things that slithered to a stop under modest braking and twitched alarmingly as soon as the bike’s lean angle was more than few degrees off the vertical. And even budget sport-touring tyres have levels of grip that would have seemed like track-day-hero stuff twenty years ago.

So it’s a no-brainer. We all want wet weather grip right? So who’d not want a tyre with 15% more wet weather grip? There’s a simple answer to that, and it’s anyone who understands what determines traction on real roads. This is a marketing claim, pure and simple. Read more

Whiteknights Blood Bikes

 
Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025
 Whiteknights are pleased to publish our operational statistics for November 2025. We travelled over 6000 miles to make urgent deliveries free of charge for hospitals, hospices and patients in Yorkshire.
We believe we saved the NHS from almost £11,000 in out of hours transportation costs.
If you would like to support our charity this Christmas time please consider donating through our official Just Giving Page.
Thank you.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly newsletter 31st January 2025 Scooter safety:
As well as it being illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place, there are real concerns for the safety of e-scooter riders and other road users.
Additionally, it could affect a young person’s ability to apply for a driving licence when they reach the legal age.
This is because e-scooters are currently classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, which opens riders up to a raft of offences as they need to have a driving licence and insurance to ride them.
This also means if e-scooter are to be made legal, the minimum age allowed to ride one would be 16 years old.

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
Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly newsletter 11th October 2024 Has it been a while since you passed your Advanced test? 📆
Our Advanced Refresher course allows drivers and riders to brush up on their skills with one of our dedicated Observers, so you can ensure you’re still driving or riding at an Advanced level!
 
 

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 Double amputee who lost legs in road traffic collision runs half marathon to raise funds for road safety charity

Former semi-professional footballer Shaun Whiter has overcome life-changing injuries, running 13 miles at Run Fest at Silverstone Circuit

Shaun ran in memory of brothers Ben and Arron Peak, aged eight and ten, tragically killed by a drink-driver as they travelled to the racetrack for a family day out Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly newsletter 6th September 2024

Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 🏍️

Incorporating Observe, Anticipate, Plan, when on the roads, can help educate and upskill riders to ensure safer journeys. Learn more 
ACEM

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 14 November 2025 The campaign concluded with an immersive experience where riders and journalists put post-license training into practice on two wheels.

Milan (Italy) | 6 November 2025

Riders and journalists shared the ride and tested their skills at EICMA during the closing of Learn – Ride – Enjoy – Repeat, the European campaign by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), aimed at encouraging both novice and experienced riders to pursue high-quality, voluntary motorcycle training.

In Milan, the final event turned that message into an experience. Under the guidance of certified Federazione Motociclistica Italiana trainers, participants took part in demo rides and advanced exercises, including alternating slaloms, controlled acceleration and braking, and smooth wide turns, all designed to underline the benefits of post-license training. The highlight of the event was sharing the ride with James Toseland, two-time World Superbike champion, offering a unique, hands-on experience of how refined techniques elevate every ride. Read more

Autocycle Union

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 2026 Event Paperwork Now Available

We are pleased to confirm that the 2026 Event Paperwork is now available to download from the Resource Area on Sport80.

Please note that, due to a change in our Insurance Provider, organisers must ensure they use the updated 2026 documents. Several sections have been revised, and the wording has changed in a number of areas.

To avoid delays or compliance issues, please ensure all event submissions are completed using the new 2026 paperwork only.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the ACU Office. Read more

 

Motorcycle Industries Association

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 MCIA has today published the new vehicle registrations for the month of November 2025.

This includes Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles and other categories within the wider L-Category vehicle types.

As we enter the last 2 months of this year, we fully expect to report some heavy declines compared to the previous year. This is driven by the large market distortions seen in November and December 2024, where over 8,400 units were registered ahead of the Euro 5 phase out. Compared to last year, November 2025 closed at a minus 24% and which impact the total year-to-date market which is now -15% compared to the previous year. Read more

National Motorcycle Dealers Association

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 “The market in November continues to show improvement compared to earlier this year, despite an Autumn Budget that failed to deliver any meaningful support for our sector” said Symon Cook, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), in response to the latest figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).

Motorcycle registrations for November fell by -25.6%, with 4,924 new motorcycles registered, compared to 6,615 in the same month last year. Year-to-date motorcycle registrations now stand at 84,649 units, representing a -15.2% decline compared to November 2024. Total registrations declined -24.3% in the month, with the year-to-date market down -15.3%. Read more

National Motorcyclists Council

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 12 December 2025 The UK Government budget, delivered yesterday by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was an opportunity to move fiscal levers to recognise the role of motorcycling in the future of transport and to also bring to life the Government’s stated aim to encourage the use of zero emission motorcycles. In the end what was delivered was mixed bag for motorcycling, which does neither.

On the one hand electric motorcycles will be exempt from proposals for ‘eVED’ planned for 2028, which the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) welcomes. But on the other hand, there was no announcement to extend the current electric motorcycle ‘plug in grant’. With the current grant due to expire in April 2026, this will deliver a hammer blow to an electric motorcycle market which has already seen further falls in new registrations over the last year. The gradual whittling away of grant support since 2022 has directly impacted what was once a promising marketplace, with the ‘ePTW’ market going into decline from the point that the original grant support was reduced. Read more

FEMA

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 MANUFACTURERS’ RECALL

Due to irregularities in the materials, small cracks could develop in the fuel tank cap seals of your 2024 Husqvarna 125/250/401 Svartpilen or Vitpilen. This may lead to fuel leakage and cause an accident and injuries to the user and passers-by as well as a risk to the environment.

FEMA, Europe’s leading motorcyclists’ organisation, shows you all recalls: www.femamotorcycling.eu/recalls

British Motorcyclists Federation

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 What an achievement 🎉🏍️🎉
A big shout out of ‘Congratulations’, to Sammy Miller on his double celebration.
Well Done! 👏

 

 

 

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 The Council presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives reached a provisional agreement on the regulation concerning circularity requirements for vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). The new rules will replace the two existing directives and set requirements to ensure that new vehicles are designed in a way that supports their re-use, recycling and recovery.

The new regulation is part of the European Green Deal and the circular economy action plan, aiming to transition the automotive sector to a more circular model. It introduces measures across the entire life cycle of vehicles, from design and production to their end-of-life treatment, with the twofold goal of enhancing environmental protection and ensuring the proper functioning of the single market. A key focus is tackling the persistent problem of ‘missing vehicles’ through enhanced traceability and control measures. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 “A year of real progress and renewed energy across the Road Safety Community.”

At this year’s Project Edward Parliamentary Reception, organised under the banner of “promoting best practice in road safety”,
representatives and partners from the road safety community, including the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), gathered to discuss and reflect on what had been achieved during 2025 on the path towards Vision Zero; an ambitious strategy to deliver safer roads, speeds, vehicles and behaviours through a collaborative “Safe Systems” approach to road safety. Read more

Motorcycle Action Group

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 First written confirmation of delay to 2026 obtained through MAG member action

The government has missed its own deadline for the Integrated National Transport Strategy. Parliamentary answers published December 8th provide the first written confirmation: INTS won’t appear until “early next year” – no specific date, despite promises of 2025 publication.

But there’s a bigger story here about strategic accountability.

How This Got On Record
MAG member Paul was frustrated with months of delays and vague updates. So he wrote to his MP, Desmond Swayne, asking him to table written parliamentary questions: When will INTS be published? What engagement has government had with motorcyclists?

The Department for Transport had to answer on the parliamentary record. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 I should make something clear from the outset: I was against PCCs from the moment I learned how they would be elected—after first declaring their political allegiance. Prior experience in law enforcement wasn’t required. This reminded me of a roadside election billboard I saw back in 1980 during a six-week study exchange in Michigan, USA: “Vote ‘Dave Doktor’ for Sheriff of Lapeer County – Democrat.” As a British police officer, prohibited from showing any political bias, I found this very strange. Later that week, the chief of police in Flint, Max Durbin (a Republican affiliate), told me that if a Democrat mayor were elected, he wouldn’t want a Republican as chief of police—so Durbin would be replaced. The mayor outranked the chief and even carried a police ID card; I know this because Flint’s mayor, Jim Rutherford, showed me his. 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. 


Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 19 December 2025 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

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly newsletter 24th January 2025  Look after your bike/moped and it will look after you.  Carrying out a few simple checks before each ride could save your life. Use POWDERS

Petrol

  • Do you have enough for your journey?
  • Is the reserve tap off?
  • Check there are no leaks Read more… 

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Free Assessed Ride

Want to try before you buy? Fill in the form below and arrange the FREE ride assessment when it’s convenient for you.  Or just ride down to Meadowhall Retail Park, Sheffield S9 1EP, 9am any Saturday morning.

Be safe - ALWAYS carry your Biker I.C.E card!

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!