Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly newsletter 23rd May 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
The weather has been kind to us again this week. A bit cooler than the previous week and it has made for some very pleasant riding trips. Fran (Chair) has written a report on the Darley Dale Track Day last week. The 12 SAM advanced riders who took part were looking to practise and maintain their riding skills. This was especially true for high speed braking. It’s a skill that needs a clear space to practice and if you have to take emergency action, it can be a life saver.
Is powered-two-wheel transport being forgotten, ignored or deliberately excluded from the UK’s highway planning policy? With a report out this week on the parking provision for motorcycles seemingly excluded from the majority of the UK, it would seem to be the case. Total UK parking provision is less than 1% of that given to 4-wheel transport. Local Authority motorcycle parking provision is less that 0.41% of the total space. Yorkshire and Humberside sit at the bottom of a list with 0.3%.
Changes to driving licences and driving offences in the EU, after approval by the Council, took another step toward implementation. After approval by the EU Assembly the changes will become law. The new recommendations are:
- provisional agreement a digital driving licence, available on a smartphone with EU-wide digital wallet technology
- a probationary period of at least two years for new drivers
- stricter rules and sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while not using safety belts or child-restraint systems
- zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs that would ban consumption for all drivers
- Before being issued with first licence, all drivers should pass a medical check that includes test of their eyesight and cardiovascular condition
- car drivers or motorcycle riders EU countries may opt to substitute the medical check by self-assessment forms or, in case of driving licence renewal, other alternative measures
- a driving withdrawal, suspension or restriction abroad will be passed on to the EU country which issued the driving licence to enforce the penalty and make sure it is followed
The delays in making changes to motorcycle licenses in the UK, may be awaiting changes in the EU. We may not be part of the EU but, like sending sausages to Member States, alignment on standards can be helpful to everyone.
The motorcycle market appears to be holding up well. Eicher Motors, parent company of Royal Enfield, have reported stronger than expected profits. Royal Enfield has announced it’s ‘Flying Flea’ electric city bike will be available in early 2026. Some electric motorcycle companies may be struggling, whilst others are planning to release new models. Triumph have developed the Tiger Sport 800 to compete with BMW’s F900XR and the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT.
There is a lot of other really interesting content in your SAM newsletter. There is a very good analysis on roundabouts and some great adventure stories. Until next week, happy reading and ride safe.
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
Event Report
A Review by Fran (Chair) – 19th May
That was a great session. Different, but complementary to i2i Academy mc1/2 courses. In the morning, we did braking, cornering drills and then laps without braking. There were classroom chats in between. There were 12 SAM advanced riders taking part, of us which was a good group size. The drills were very useful. Braking from 70 mph great opportunity to practice our high speed braking skills. They are essential practice for all riders and track days offer time and space to hone them. The classroom sessions were interesting, but often not as detailed as mc1. As a result, they sometimes gave information that conflict with i2i’s instructructions. For example, details of how to push in countersteering. The information given was sound.
The brake free laps were great! In afternoon we had chance to do lots of free laps. There were four coaches supporting us, Two of whom were advanced trained riders and one track coach. The coaching style was all based on the IPSGA system. For example, avoid carrying brake pressure into corner. I found it really useful to practice hard braking from speed – not that I’ll use that on corners on the road! Should I ever need it, building muscle memory for emergencies really helps. I spent a lot of laps practicing my weakness, maintaining throttle into corners and accelerating as soon as view opened up.
We could go as fast or as slow as we wanted. I was going very fast on straights, but cautiously controlled into corners, so I never felt unsafe.
If I was only to choose one session, it would be mc1 with i2i in York. If I could do 2 sessions I’d also add the Darley Moor day. Practising riding skills helps to maintain and develop them to use in everyday life. Ride safe.
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
2th June 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
29th May 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
It’s not hard to see why certain corners of the automotive world are excited at the prospect of hydrogen-fueled combustion engines: they promise to combine the familiarity of conventional designs and manufacturing processes with rapid refueling that EVs can only dream of, while boasting near-zero emissions. What’s not to like?
Quite a bit, as it turns out, because while hydrogen is the most abundant element in the known universe, it’s hard to extract, tough to store and transport, and extremely bulky. What’s more, it’s colorless and odorless, making leaks hard to detect, and potentially explosive when mixed with oxygen in the air. Read more…
REPORT highlights serious lack of parking provision for motorbikes
Posted
Less than 1% of the United Kingdom’s licensed motorbikes are being granted a designated space in council car parks
Only 4,241 of the UK’s 1,046,437 total parking spaces* in council car parks are dedicated to motorcycles – a paltry 0.41%. Those motorcycle-specific spaces** may have enough room to fit approximately*** 11,058 bikes in them but it still leaves a huge shortfall when compared against the number of riders in the UK
There are around 1.4 million registered motorcycles across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland but the lack of provision means just 0.76% of them are able to park in bays that are allocated exclusively to them in authorities’ off-street parking facilities
The damning under-representation looks even worse when you consider there are roughly 34 million registered cars in the four countries. Every 30 in 1,000 cars are being catered for by councils, but only seven in 1,000 motorcycles – over four times less
The in-depth report produced by Bikesure, the UK’s largest motorcycle insurance broker, contains a plethora of visual stats with a national, regional and local focus and highlights the chaos that also reigns around motorcycle parking
“The numbers just don’t add up, and bikers deserve better,” said Rob Balls, the company’s general manager who is urging authorities to “start addressing the imbalance” Read more…
Three former BikeSafe coaches with Class 1 and advanced emergency services rider training qualifications have set up a new post-test advanced rider training school, designed to boost rider skills and safety in a casual, and relaxed manner.
Called Ridewise.pro, the school has been set up by experienced coaches Colin Staniford, Mark Witherden, and Sean Rushbrook. All three met whilst coaching with BikeSafe and have been riding together for many years.
Their first event took place in partnership with Dainese London in late April, and there’s now a full list of riding courses available across 2025, starting at locations including Bike Shed London, and Ryka’s Café at Boxhill.“We all enjoy riding and motorcycle culture, but we really enjoy the coaching side of things,” Mark Witherden told MCN. “Seeing someone come to you and leave with newly acquired and specific skills and being more proficient at what they do, is very rewarding. Read more…
Bimota are looking to expand their presence in the UK market, opening five new dealerships under Kawasaki command – with ambitions for a showroom in Scotland too. And you’ll even be able to book a test ride.
“We haven’t really been promoting Bimota in the UK until now,” he continued. “It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a huge number of sales over the past few years, but now we’ve established a proper dealer network, we can start building upon sales.”
The Bimota dealerships are Cobb and Jagger in Leeds, M&P Motorcycles in Cardiff, Hyside Motorcycles in Chelmsford, Chris Walker Motorcycles in Grantham, and Signature Moto.
All five showrooms will receive stock from this month, with deliveries of the KB4 – Bimota’s Ninja 1000SX-powered retro sportsbike – beginning immediately. Read more…
Approximately 8% of Americans know how to ride a motorcycle, making for 26.8 million possible riders, assuming a 2023 population of 334.9 million people. In 2023, about 547,000 new motorcycles were sold in the US by 78,077 hardworking Americans working at motorcycle dealerships. It’s hard work putting paying butts on seats.
Statistically speaking, many more of us will buy a new motorcycle than sell them for a living. And while selling cars and trucks is a fine job, it doesn’t have the same cachet selling bikes does. You might need a car but you want a motorcycle. Selling motorcycles sounds way more fun than selling cars. Is it? Read more…
If you’ve spent any time out on the trail or lined up at a race, you’ve probably seen Klim gear in action. Based out of Idaho, Klim has built a solid reputation for making some of the most durable and technical off-road apparel on the market.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill moto gear, it’s been beaten up in the Rocky Mountains, roasted in desert races, and put through the wringer by serious riders everywhere.
Now, Klim’s giving back to the riders who are out there chasing podiums, or just giving it their all on race day. The brand’s Racer Support Program is back for 2025, and it’s a solid opportunity for amateur racers and privateers to get some much-needed backing. Read more…
I’ve been thinking about transportation since before I could spell that word. That’s probably something that comes with growing up riding public buses and trains to get to school every day. Later on, I’d learn to ride a bicycle, drive, and (of course) ride a motorcycle. And at various times in my commuting career, I’d find ways to incorporate all of those forms of transportation—not to mention plenty of walking—into whatever commute I was doing at the time.
Like most of us do, I tended to notice how easy or difficult it was to park a motorcycle, car, or bicycle the most when I was operating one of those things. Sure, you can fit more motorbikes in the space that a single car occupies, since they can park with their rear tire against the curb and are about as long (especially if parked at a slight diagonal) as a car is wide. 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...
I am sure that everyone one will agree keeping your engine oil cool is a damn good thing. I do it by using a BUD OIL COOLER.
You can see the article on the install of an Oil Bud on my air cooled 2009 FLHTC.
Note the article from June 11, 2010. I still have and ride that motorcycle with 163317 miles on it without the heads ever being off the engine. The engine oil temperature is still at 180 degrees with oil pressure like new from the factory. Even when I rode through Arizona in 114 degree temperatures the oil temperature only went to 190 degrees. Now That Is Saying Something. Read more…
Adventure & Touring
After years of anticipation and determined preparation, we pocketed the key to our empty D.C. apartment, tossed on our waterproof riding gear, and climbed on our motorcycles. I hit the start button and… click—dead battery. Thus began our epic journey.
For the previous three years, my wife Odessa and I had been saving, preparing, and ridding ourselves of possessions to set off on motorcycles. During that time, our KTMs had been stolen and (thankfully) recovered, and we’d spent many sleepless nights afterward wondering whether a thief would try again—so concerned that we stepped up the departure date to the end of summer. Armed with dozens of possible routes, the plan was to head west-northwest with our dog Surak until we ran out of roads, then turn south for the lands of warm winters and cheaper living costs.
Life on motorcycles still has responsibilities—a different set than normal life, but we set off with a list of chores. We found a home for the last of our stuff we were keeping and ventured to South Dakota to establish residency. With no deadlines but autumn looming, we rode through the eastern U.S. and the midwest at a too-fast pace that we had to accept. Read more…
Throughout our nine-day, four-state, 4,200-mile journey, Eric always had a smile on his face (although it was sometimes hidden behind a balaclava). (Photos by the author)
Months before the Great North American Eclipse of 2024, which would follow a 124-mile-wide “path of totality” from Texas to Maine on April 8, my friend Eric Birns found the perfect place to experience several minutes of darkness within the path: Ingram, Texas, the closest location to our home in Ventura, California.Not only would Ingram be in the path of totality, it’s also located in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Riding the renown Twisted Sisters – Ranch-to-Market Roads 335, 336, and 337 – has been on my moto bucket list for years, so we hatched a plan. Read more…
History & Custom
King Current: A scratch-built electric chopper from Switzerland
Just over a decade ago, Bruno Forcella had the nutty idea to build a chopper with an electric drivetrain. The minimalistic hardtail evoked myriad reactions, ranging from intrigued to downright vexed. But Bruno was undeterred—so he’s just built another electric chopper, with even more features than the last. Based in Switzerland, Bruno is an electrical…Read more »
1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller – the origin of the species
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller is the world’s first production motorcycle and the first to be called a ‘motorcycle’. Strictly speaking, they called it a ‘motorrad’ since they were German but I digress…
History
Designed and built by engineers Heinrich Hildebrand and Alois Wolfmüller and their mechanic, Hans Geisenhof, it was launched in 1894. Initially, they were rather successful, building machines in factories across Munich. However, perhaps in their haste to be first, they launched their machine without much in the way of development work. This led to a number of problems, including a tendency to overheat. Sadly, the company didn’t last long and closed it’s doors for good in 1897.
The exact number built is not known with sources suggesting anywhere from around 800 up to 2,000. Naturally, very few are left today but the one that illustrates this article is believed to be the earliest numbered example remaining. Read more…
Kevin Williams
Clutch cables – preventive maintenance
If you’ve got a clutch cable on the bike – and most of us will have – sooner or later, the cable will fail. That happened to me in the south of France on my old XBR500. As always, prevention is better than a fix. I check regularly both ends of the cable for the tell-tale signs of broken strands of wire and replace it before failure. In fact, I treat the clutch cable as a service item, and change them early, usually when the clutch action starts to feel heavy. They’re not expensive.
Unfortunately, I neglected those steps with the Honda. This was about 1986 or 87, and knowing I was about to ride down to the Bol d’Or 24 hour race in the south of France, the weekend before departure, I gave the bike a once-over. I changed the oil and filter, adjusted the valves (a ten minute job with screw and locknut adjusters), cleaned, lubed and adjusted the chain, and that was pretty much a full service. I checked the pads at the front, the drum at the rear for wear, and checked the clutch cable. Read more…
Would there be a safety cost in switching drivers to bikes?
[Based on the in-depth item in yesterday’s Elevenses live webcast]
Yesterday, one of the new bikes I looked at was the updated Honda CB125F, just the kind of bike that the various groups supporting motorcycle use – such as the MCIA and FEMA – would like to get drivers on to, with the claimed benefits of cutting car use, reducing traffic congestion and lowering emissions into the bargain.
What’s never mention is the potential impact on crash stats. So what does a country where significant numbers of motorcycles are in daily use actually look like? And what are the safety issues? Read more…
Finally – recognition collisions are two-way!
[Based on the in-depth item in yesterday’s Elevenses webcast]
The previous Wednesday, my in-depth piece in Elevenses was about the MCIA’s claim that the DfT should update the driving test because they believe drivers need better hazard perception skills to keep riders safe.
I pointed out that there are two sides to every collision, and that I present this particular concept to bikers with a snappy catchphrase – it takes ‘Two to Tangle’ – the driver’s error sets up the potential for the collision. But the crash is only complete if the rider fails to see it coming in time to take evasive action. Read more…
“I tried it but it didn’t feel natural”
Recently, I suggested a practical fix for a riding problem for someone on the bike forum. Now, I’m happy that my solution is not just simple to use but actually works, but I didn’t get any answer to my suggestion. I left it a week or so then asked the guy a week or so later if he’d tried it, and he responded:
“It felt really unnatural and I wasn’t keen.”
In other words, reading the subtext to that statement, what he really meant was:
“I’m not going to do it.” Read more…
Turning right at a multilane roundabout
Ashley Neal’s most recent video came out the other day, and showed a learner rider being taken out on a roundabout by a car cutting into him by turning left from the right-hand lane, whilst he was going straight ahead from the left-hand lane. You can watch the actual incident here:
I’d suggest you do that before you watch Ashley’s analysis of what went wrong.
Here are some observations on the crash. Two years ago, I started an in-depth look at a road safety campaign in Warwickshire freely available Collisionplot map. When I looked at Rugby and its environs, what was very obvious was that the real crash hotspots were in two places. The first – not surprisingly – was in the town generally – the map revealed that’s where most crashes happened, and there were a worrying number involving PTWs and pedestrians. Read more…
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
Focus on walking and wheeling:
As part of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, we are putting a spotlight on the Hierarchy of Road Users (Rule H1).
It is important that ALL road users are aware of The Official Highway Code, are considerate to other road users and understand their responsibility for the safety of others.
Everyone suffers when road collisions occur, whether they are physically injured or not.
But those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.
This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles.
Cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse drawn vehicles likewise have a responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians.
None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety.
Always remember that the people you encounter may have impaired sight, hearing or mobility and that this may not be obvious.
Find our more: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/introduction…
#barnsley #Doncaster #Sheffield #rotherham #roadsafety #visionzero
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? 
Share on Facebook
Summer-long experience delivers guided road trip alongside road safety education
Collecting points en route, participants will see some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery
A new initiative combining treasure-hunt style car road trips around the picturesque Scottish Highlands and an educational approach to road safety with the chance to win a £50 voucher per challenge launches on Monday 19th May, by the UK’s leading road safety charity. Read more…
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
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…
SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE POTHOLE
POTHOLE PARTNERSHIP REVEALS IMPROVING PICTURE ON NATIONAL POTHOLE DAY
- The AA attended 643,318 pothole related incidents in 2024, down compared to previous year
- Partnership urges councils to make permanent repairs a priority over temporary fixes
- Drop in pothole incidents coincides with rise in repair costs
- Pothole damage costs drivers whopping £579m
The Pothole Partnership is calling for more permanent repairs and greater use of innovation and technology on National Pothole Day (15 January) to reduce vehicle damage and injuries to cyclists and motorcycle riders. Read more…
FEMA
This is a European-wide campaign designed to encourage novice and experienced riders to take high-quality voluntary motorcycle training, launched by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) and the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
Voluntary post-license training is a stepping stone toward safer riding, equipping Motorcyclists with further knowledge, skills, and experience. Through this initiative, ACEM and FIM aim to inspire European riders to take the next step in their journey by enrolling in certified training programmes, ensuring more riders have access to advanced tools and knowledge to enjoy motorcycling safely and responsibly. Read more…
Motorcycle Action Group
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced in April 2025 that the 20% car use reduction target by 2030 was “not realistic.” She told MSPs, “We will need to drop the target, or change it from 20%,” citing minimal progress since 2020. This policy failure demands a re-think, opening doors for motorcycling, previously ignored in car reduction plans now under review.
Cars dominate Scotland’s roads, causing congestion and emissions. Motorcycles offer a practical solution, affordable for Scots of all incomes. Read more…
British Motorcyclists Federation
Paul Varnsverry, the highly respected motorcycling clothing expert, is launching a campaign aimed at eliminating uncertified and potentially unsafe bike kit, currently being imported into the UK and offered for sale online. Varnsverry, Technical Director of clothing consultant at PVA-PPE, is started a petition aimed at alerting Government to the dangers of untested kit. In conversation with MCN, he praised the efforts of Trading Standards in the last three years, in checking bike shows and high street shops for sub-standard kit. But he added that clothing offered online is attempting to circumvent these checks. Read more… 
A provisional deal on EU driving licence rules introducing a mobile licence and driving disqualification for reckless drivers was approved in the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).
A revamped EU driving licence rules, agreed by Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens, DE), in March 2025, seek to contribute to road safety and EU’s digital transition.
Digital driving licence
Under the provisional agreement a digital driving licence, available on a smartphone with EU-wide digital wallet technology, will become the main format in the EU. However, MEPs managed to ensure that drivers will continue to have the right to request a physical driver’s licence. 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.
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…
