It was cold, but the sun was shining last Saturday, so it was on with the heated clothing and out to ride. Riding in cooler conditions always presents a challenge. It takes a little extra preparation, but heated gloves and gilet make the ride much more pleasant. Whether these are battery powered or wired into the bike doesn’t matter. Batteries can last a decent length of time and a couple of spares in the pocket or top box mean that you remain toasty throughout the ride. This helps alertness and concentration that are vital in riding today. 

It’s amazing, but proves a very disturbing problem in helping young motorcyclists. The New Rider Forum reported the latest research on the causes of young rider casualties. The problem? The research team had to define who was a young rider. The first rules of research iare ‘understand the research questions(s)’ and ‘know your subjects!’. It turns out that, in the case of young riders, assessing who is a ‘young rider’ is a difficult exercise. It may not actually be possible:  

“There is no single profile of a “young rider”; they vary widely in motivation, experience and behaviour ” (Ozkan et al, 2026 )

The young riders community is so diverse that bespoke tailored interventions are needed. They are also a group that is difficult to engage consistently. Recognize the diversity among young riders and tailor interventions accordingly. There are some common needs. To reach them you need to engage with all the social media platforms and the diverse groups of young motorcyclists that reside there. There are limited conclusions that can be drawn from this DfT (Department for Transport) funded research. Not surprisingly, there is a suggestion that economic factors influence attitudes toward training and protective equipment. Understandable when you consider limited disposable income, swingeing taxation on protective gear and costly training. The UK Government has to take its share of responsibility for making it difficult for young riders to keep themselves safer on the roads. However, the research suggests that young riders are not ill-informed about the need to help them ride safer. They have a shopping list of needs:

• More help in how to stay visible, especially at night.
• Training in bike maintenance 
• Training in safe filtering techniques
• Safer rider risk management at junctions
• A wider CBT curriculum with integrated hazard perception, risk management,  embedded Highway Code and advice on PPE
• A safer riding app that includes safer route planning and guided warnings on the management of  riding hazards at the time they are likely to occur
• Easier access to advanced training schemes like RideFree

Motorcycle trainers and experienced riders may have other aspects of riding that young riders should learn.

Complaining, blaming and shouting about KSI statistics isn’t going to impress young riders. They want real political champions that will help them to stay out of the A&E departments and cemeteries! They don’t have any spare body parts in the shed and their organs need to remain inside their bodies. They are very attached to the body they use. Only with the ability to on the type of transport they need, can they help the UK socially and economically prosper. Just a thought!

In the rest of the motorcycling world this week,  motorcycling has managed to be political football, tech test‑bed and travelling circus all at once – and if you’re 18 and wondering what kind of future you’re riding into. The last seven days have been  revealing snapshots of where bikes and markets stand right now.

Politics, net zero and who pays

In Westminster, the drumbeat around net zero is getting louder – but bikes are still fighting to be heard. The UK Government’s focus on car‑first EV grants has drawn fresh fire from the National Motorcyclists Council and industry voices, who argue that sidelining powered two‑wheelers risks slowing decarbonisation rather than speeding it up. Their message is blunt: small, light bikes cut congestion and emissions today and grants should back a mix of low‑ and zero‑CO2 machines rather than just four‑wheeled EVs. Behind the scenes, trade bodies are pushing for a “technology‑neutral” policy that supports cleaner combustion, hybrids and electric bikes, instead of betting the whole farm on cars and vans.

Across the Atlantic, lobby groups like the Motorcycle Riders Foundation are already shaping a 2026 agenda built around data rights, the definition of a motorcycle, emissions rules and protecting internal‑combustion engines. Their stance on issues like right‑to‑repair and anti‑profiling laws shows how easily rider freedoms can be squeezed when lawmakers don’t understand the culture. The subtext for UK riders is clear: if you don’t want others to define your future, you will need to pay attention to what’s happening in Parliament as much as what’s happening in the paddock.

New metal, new owners, familiar dreams

On the product side, the past few days have been busy for anyone dreaming of their next bike. At the affordable end, Benelli’s BN 125 for 2026 is being pushed as a 125 with “big bike attitude”, promising grown‑up looks and low running costs for new riders and city commuters. Adventure‑leaning kit brands have piled in too, with GIVI highlighting luggage and protection aimed squarely at gap‑year tours and first Euro trips and Knox promoting its Urbane Pro Move armoured shirt as a lighter, less bulky way to ride protected every day. BMW Motorrad UK has laid out its 2026 “World of BMW” activity programme, with training, touring and off‑road events that make it easier to plug into the brand’s community even if you’re just stepping up from a 125.

Big‑picture industry news came from Indian Motorcycle, as investment outfit Carolwood LP completed its move to assume control of the brand, promising a “new era of freedom”. For riders, that sort of boardroom shuffle sounds distant, but it affects everything from how radical future models will be to how hard Indian fights for younger, non‑cruiser buyers in Europe.

Racing, events and where to hang out

Racing hasn’t been quiet either. The Arenacross Tour hit Belfast’s SSE Arena, with Dean Wilson taking the win on the opening night and keeping the indoor series’ momentum boiling as it heads through its middle rounds. For off‑road fans, that means bar‑to‑bar action in proper winter conditions instead of waiting for the outdoor season to wake up.

Road racing storylines are already building, even before the Isle of Man goes loud. CD Racing has confirmed Adam McClean for the 2026 Supersport class on a Kawasaki ZX‑6R, while Roadhouse Macau has signed David Datzer alongside Brian McCormack for its TT effort, adding more depth to an already stacked grid. WorldSBK is about to kick off its 2026 season at Phillip Island, with organisers keen to sell the series as the place where fans can get closer than ever to the action. In the background, MotoGP’s silly season is in full swing, with 2027 deals being inked before a single 2026 race has been run, underlining how cut‑throat the top tier has become.[

If your buzz comes from being trackside rather than glued to a stream, Cadwell Park has dropped its 2026 calendar and it’s a monster. British Superbikes will mark its 30th anniversary with a bank‑holiday triple‑header on 29–31 August, promising packed banks and the usual madness over the Mountain. Club series like BMCRC, No Limits and classic championships pepper the year from April through autumn, giving trackday regulars and club racers something to aim at, while the Cadwell Moto festival in late September leans into the broader two‑wheeled culture with bikes, music and general mayhem.

Why this week matters if you’re 18

Strip it back and the last seven days have drawn the battle lines your generation will ride along. Politicians are deciding whether bikes are part of the climate solution or just an afterthought. Lobbyists are fighting over whether you own your bike’s data and whether you’ll be allowed to tune it. Manufacturers are working out if small‑capacity, affordable bikes stay exciting or become bland mobility pods. At the same time, race calendars and training programmes show there’s still a clear path from CBT to trackdays, off‑road schools and full‑fat racing if you want it badly enough.

One major problem in making the biker’s voice heard is tribalism. Whilst motorcyclists are a distinct community, the in-group/out-group rivalries, stereotypes and prejudices may be the biggest threat to its future. Politicians will very quickly exploit divisions and play one group off against another. It’s the way modern politics operates. It will take a consistent voice, no matter what flavour of biker you are, to ensure the messages of economic transport, sustainability, ecological and minimal highway damage get through. Otherwise we could all be walking, cycling or driving 4,000kg cars! Until next week, ride safe and happy reading.