Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 27 February 2026
Table of Contents
Editorial
The weather turn icy, so everyone was meeting up later in the morning, going for lunch and catching up on the past week’s events. Milder weather has returned, but flooded roads and debris still needs extra care if you are out riding on those pleasant days.
It has been a massive week for the UK biking scene, with everything from “life-changing” law proposals to the return of world-class racing. If you’ve been scrolling past the news, here is exactly what you need to know about the state of two wheels right now. MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) have begun a campaign to have VED (Vehicle Exercise Duty) removed from all motorcycles. This budget change would cost approximately £133,345,980. That’s 1.6% of VED collected from UK vehicles each year. The move would not only reduce the cost of motorcycle ownership, but also boost sales, reduce highway damage, provide cheaper, more efficient travel and help towards reducing emissions and achieving net zero targets. It would be a positive step towards helping a struggling motorcycle market.
The End of the “Permanent Learner”?
The consultation on the the government’s move to overhaul how we get on bikes continues. You have made your views known haven’t you? The unintended consequence of the adoption of the EU’s proposals on motorcycle licencing and training, has provided a convenient ‘get-out-of-the-test’ option exploited by around 80,000 Learner riders each year. Time for a change, but in which direction? The government wants to encourage a “stepping stone” approach to a full licence. There is a proposal for Progressive Access: the idea that you could move from an A2 to a full A licence just by completing a training course, rather than sitting another high-stress DVSA module test. For young riders, this could mean a much smoother, cheaper path to a “big” bike.
Fresh Metal: From Retros to Adventure
On the showroom front, it’s been a busy seven days:
Ducati’s 100th Birthday: Ducati kicked off its centenary celebrations by launching the Formula 73. It’s a stunning, limited-edition retro twin (only 873 being made) that pays tribute to the legendary 750 Super Sport.
Norton’s New Adventure: Spy shots emerged this week of the Norton Atlas GT testing in India. This 585cc parallel-twin is a middleweight adventure bike aimed squarely at a younger generation, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and 6-axis electronics.
Royal Enfield Expansion: Parent company Eicher Motors confirmed they are amping up production to two million bikes a year, with a Himalayan 750 and updated 650 twins confirmed to be in the works for 2026.
Racing Roars Back to Life
Winter is officially over. This weekend, the World Superbike (WSBK) season kicks off at Phillip Island. Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega has dominated the free practice sessions so far, looking like the man to beat.
In MotoGP, the “Wired Different” marketing campaign launched this week, signaling a shift to make the sport more of a “global entertainment brand” for younger fans. We also saw confirmation that the American King of the Baggers series—where massive 300kg touring bikes race at lean angles that shouldn’t be possible—will join the MotoGP tour for six rounds this year.
The “Anti-Robot” Stance
Finally, a bit of philosophy from the top. Ducati’s North American CEO, Jason Chinnock, made headlines this week by swearing off self-driving motorcycles. While cars are going autonomous, Ducati insists that “removing rider input would strip away the very essence of motorcycling.” It’s a refreshing win for those of us who actually enjoy being in control. range?
Until next week, ride safe and happy reading.
There will be NO SAM CLUB NIGHT in MARCH. Saturday morning meetings will continue each week as normal. If the weather is bad, then chat, coffee/lunch and sharing opinions on the motorcycling world are required. Along with plenty of laughter! The SAM ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION is very kindly being coordinated by SAM Member Dave Whitman. You can email your entries to ???? The subject is simply ‘Motorcycling‘, so there is plenty of scope for you to show your creative snaps. NO AI GENERATED IMAGES! The closing date for entries will be the 29th April 2026. The winner will be announced at the SAM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on the 11th May 2026. See the SAM Calendar on the website for details.
The SPRING BREAKFAST MEET is currently be organised and details will be published, on the website calendar and member’s emails, in due course. RIDE → EAT → LAUGH → REPEAT!
The next SAM Committee Meeting will be on the 5th March 2026. The next SAM Club Night will be on the 13th April 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.
the SAM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on the 11th May 2026. Notification, Minutes and Nomination Forms will be circulated in due course. See the SAM Calendar on the website for details of any changes.
The SPRING BREAKFAST MEET is currently be organised and details will be published, on the website calendar and member’s emails, in due course. RIDE → EAT → LAUGH → REPEAT!
IMPORTANT: The SAM Charity (UK Registered No. 1089671) relies on YOUR membership fee and donations to continue our vital work in public education, advanced training of motorcyclists and helping advanced motorcyclists retain and update their knowledge and skills. Your membership fee is due by the 1st April 2026. The SAM Committee, recognising these economically difficult times, has agree to keep membership fee at £15 (members) and £25 (supporters). Thank you for your continued help and support.
Your success is our success!
SAM annual advanced rider test successes:
2023/24 → 86% inc. 9 x firsts¹
2024/25 → 67% inc. 5 x firsts
2025/26 → 80% (YTD) inc. 6 x firsts
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
- A ‘First advanced rider test pass’ means the rider qualified with no more than 3 minor riding faults. Test standards are strict, fair and applied to all test candidates. Even excellent riders can make a minor error that does not impede safe riding or affect the safety of other road users. Test anxiety is real, but we train you to cope with your nerves. We’ve got a lot of experience! Also some Associates don’t go on to take an advanced rider test, but they always reach a test standard, no matter how long it takes. Your IAM RoadSmart rider course purchase is valid for 12 months of tuition. Come and join us!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
13th April 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
5th March 2026
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
A pair of UK-based round-the-world motorcycle travellers have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Iranian court on espionage charges, following their arrest while riding through the country on an overland journey to Australia.Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both British citizens, were arrested on January 3, 2025, and have since been detained for more than 13 months before receiving the verdict – which has been described as “in line with the most severe politically motivated detentions of UK nationals in Iran.”
The ruling followed a court appearance in late October last year before Judge Abolghasem Salavati at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
Salavati has previously been sanctioned by the UK, US and EU in connection with human rights violations, and for overseeing ‘show trials’ widely criticised for a lack of due process. Read more
Editor’s Note: There has been a lot of disparaging and hateful comments online about this couple’s predicament. The question about whether, against UK Foreign Office advice, they should have entered the country is a question to ask when they are out of Iran. From our enquiries the following information has emerged:
The basis of the arrest given by the Iranian Government:
- They entered the country “under the guise of tourists”
- They gathered sensitive information across multiple provinces
- They had “confirmed connections” with intelligence service from “hostile and Western nations”
Their arrangements prior to entering Iran:
- They entered Iran from Armenia on December 30, 2024, with valid Iranian visas.
- They travelled with a licensed tour guide.
- They had a pre-cleared itinerary that they intended to follow whilst crossing the country on motorcycles.
- They were on a round-the-world motorcycle trip to Australia and had been sharing photos of their journey on, Iranian-monitored, social media. This included posts from Isfahan just days before their arrest.
Support from the British Government:
- Despite the Iranians making consular access increasingly difficult, the UK Government have supported the couple since their detention.
- There is a clear lack of any credible evidence the couple did anything wrong.
- The 3-hour trial in October 2025, where the couple were denied a defence, seems to have violated both international law and Iran’s own constitutional protections (specifically Article 37 and 39).
- Diplomatic efforts are continuing.
The “Keyboard Cowards” on Social media
Whatever our thoughts on the wisdom of the couple’s decision to enter Iran, they are ‘Adventure Bikers in Trouble’. So long as those close to the couple, the UK Consular Service and their family, are supportive, couldn’t UK bikers also show some support and kindness. We’ve all made mistakes whilst riding and pushed the boundaries to make the adventure more memorable. Hateful comment simply play into the hands of their captors. Always pause before typing, wait until emotions subside and be empathetic. Thank you.
In a shocking turn of events, the Australian MotoGP will take place on a revised version of the Adelaide street circuit from 2027 onwards. The decision itself hasn’t come out of the blue completely for those following closely, but it was announced surprisingly quickly after the Victorian government blocked MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, formerly Dorna Sports, from using its Albert Park F1 track and offered extra funding to get Phillip Island up to spec.
Within a day of the news breaking that MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group’s proposal to use the Albert Park F1 track, Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of MotoGP, was seen landing in Adelaide, welcomed at the airport by the Bend Motorsport Park’s billionaire owner, Sam Shahin, as shown in the main image. Clearly, the decision to move the November MotoGP round to the Adelaide street circuit was in the works well before the Victorian government rejected MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group’s proposal. Read more
If you’re a MotoGP fan like me, the idea of losing Phillip Island as a race venue has been weighing on you since you heard that the contract expires in 2026. MotoGP Sports Entertainment, formally Dorna Sports, showed no signs of renewing a contract with Phillip and instead eyed replacing it with Formula 1’s track down under, Albert Park. Now, we know how the plans are shaping up.
The idea to swap Phillip Island for Albert Park has been on MotoGP fans’ minds globally since the end of the 2025 season, but local authorities are doing their best to make sure Phillip Island remains the sole host of Australian MotoGP racing. Recently, the Allan Labor government rejected MotoGP Sport Entrainment Group’s approach to move the venue. But the interaction between the government and MotoGP’s managing body wasn’t entirely negative. Read more
India’s electric two wheeler market has just crossed a new threshold. Monthly wholesale dispatches are now holding above 100,000 units, and full year 2025 retail sales cleared roughly 1.27 million electric scooters and motorcycles.
And here’s the twist: startups lit the fire, and now the legacy giants are running the table. Once buyers got curious about electric, they didn’t necessarily stay loyal to the disruptors. They gravitated toward brands they already trusted. When daily transportation is on the line, familiarity matters. And in India, trust plus scale is a powerful combo.
For a while, it looked like pure EV brands would dominate India’s scooter future. Companies like Ola Electric and Ather Energy were the poster children of the transition. Fast forward to 2025 and the leaderboard tells a different story. It’s the old guard that has muscled its way to the top. Read more
As I believe I’ve related here in the past, I have always been (and will probably always be) a lifelong learner. I think there’s always more to learn and understand, and while I definitely forget plenty of things, it’s usually because I’m trying my best to cram new information into my skull. And truly, I’ve always been this way. I mean, I was on my way to becoming a librarian at one point for a reason, you know?
Now, I’ve shared more than a few Brick House Builds videos here at RideApart over the years, for multiple reasons. One is hey, vintage Hondas, but another major one is BJ’s strong skills at explaining and breaking down some of the things he’s doing, so that those who aren’t as experienced or skilled can begin to wrap their brains around them. 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...
We talked to the hearing protection experts at Auritech about why protecting your hearing should be just as essential for motorcyclists as wearing a helmet.
If you’re new to motorcycling, you’ve probably spent hours comparing helmets, read endless reviews of jackets and boots, and tried to decode the alphabet soup of armour ratings. You’ve likely witnessed debates about tyre compounds you didn’t know existed, and calculated the merits of PCP versus Hire Purchase versus cash buy more often than you care to admit. But there’s one risk almost no beginner thinks about – mostly because you can’t see or feel it: Noise. Read more
There’s a new heavyweight in British braking. HEL Performance has officially acquired Harrison Billet, bringing one of the UK’s most respected names in precision-machined motorcycle calipers and discs under its wing. Exeter-based HEL – best known for its stainless-steel braided brake lines, radial master cylinders and in-house CNC billet calipers – has snapped up the Harrison Billet brand in a move that significantly strengthens its grip on the performance aftermarket.
Founded in the 1980s, Harrison Billet built a loyal global following for its beautifully machined calipers, discs and brackets, covering more than 140 European, Japanese and American models — including a huge range of Harley-Davidsons dating back to 1971. The brand became synonymous with rock-solid performance, reduced weight and serious stopping power. Now, with Harrison’s product range and manufacturing know-how joining HEL’s already extensive portfolio, the combined operation promises one of the most comprehensive braking line-ups in the industry. Read more
This Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma is said to be the brand’s most advanced airbag vest to dateMotorcycle airbags may have been around for years but they’ve only recently gained mainstream awareness with road riders.Now, one of the biggest players have revealed their latest creation, and they say it’s their lightest, most comfortable, and most advanced self-inflated lifesaver to date.Engineered by Alpinestars, the new Tech-Air 5 Plasma brings more than two decades of development to the table, offering what the Italian brand say is ‘next level’ safety. Read more
New better riding videos are go! Video one – reading the road and avoiding hidden bendsIf you’ve ever wondered how to set the correct speed for every corner, or why group rides often seem slightly dicey, MCN has just launched a new series of videos that can help take your riding to the next level.Made in conjunction with Bikertek and Rapid Training, the videos are a perfect way to kick off your riding season, with each episode containing dozens of tips for experienced and novice riders alike.
“The basics of great riding – superb vision, planning and machine control – are the same no matter how years in the saddle you’ve had,” says Giles Lamb from Rapid Training, an ex-traffic cop who presents the videos. “These videos let experienced riders brush up on skills that might have waned over winter, and give newer riders tips that could transform their riding.”
The first video of the six part series is on assessing risk. “Clearly this is a crucial skill for motorcyclists, but one that a lot of us regularly get wrong – perhaps being surprised by cars pulling out, or corners tightening up. The video shows the techniques you can apply to both increase your safety margin and – crucially – enjoy your rides more.” Read more
Adventure & Touring
When I first picked up The Ernie Diaries, my initial thought was to pass on it. The cover didn’t grab me. We’re often advised to not judge books by their covers and, annoyingly, I sometimes fall prey to that, too.
In this case, the cover’s slightly fuzzy photo is of an overloaded bright orange 500cc Norton, amidst what appears to be either a Turkish or Iranian desert. My curiosity grew when I took a moment to ignore the condition of the aging photo and saw that amongst the load was a tall wicker basket, and a tank bag that looked as if it was being held on for dear life with a ratchet strap, signally that this book had the potential to tell an oddball tale.
The subtitle then drew me in: “A motorcycle adventure from London to Iran in 1973.” It dawned on me that this was the year that Ted Simon set off around the world on his Triumph Tiger. And I began to ponder how the authors, Anne Betts and Des Molloy, would deal with motorcycle travel back then. In the early 1970s, the concept of expedition-like overlanding by motorcycle was barely on anyone’s radar. Read more
History & Custom
If you were to draw a Venn diagram of “legendary reliability” and “unapologetic 90s plastic,” the Honda NX650 Dominator would sit right in the center. Launched in 1988, the Dominator was Honda’s answer to the growing demand for “soft” dual-sports—bikes that could handle a gravel fire road on Saturday and a grocery run on Monday. At its heart beats a 644cc SOHC air-cooled single-cylinder engine, a “thumper” in the truest sense. It was known for its punchy low-end torque and a bulletproof nature that has seen many units clock six-figure distances with little more than oil changes.
While the stock aesthetics, complete with integrated fairings and a somewhat bulky silhouette, haven’t aged quite as gracefully as a CB750, the Dominator’s bones are pure gold for customizers. Beneath that plastic is a slim frame, a versatile 21-inch front wheel (usually), and a motor that looks fantastic once stripped of its surroundings. It is a blank canvas for everything from desert sleds to urban scramblers. Read more
Mary says, “Yes, leg burned through boots and leathers” but that clearly didn’t take her out of the zone. “Carlsbad was a great MX track. I am quite proud to say I was at the first race there.” McGee is known as a pioneer in the world of early motorcycle racing, especially for women. She began roadracing in the US in 1960 on a Honda CB92, and in 1975, rode her Husqvarna 250 in the Baja 500. She competed in the race by herself, no partner, and passed by 17 two-man teams.
Česká zbrojovka (aka CZ) is a Czech firearms manufacturer known also for manufacturing motorcycles in the 1950s and 60s- in fact during this time they were the second largest motorbike manufacturer in Europe. Powerful two-stroke off road motorcycles brought them many racing victories. As Japanese companies began offering inexpensive motorcycles with high performance, CZ lost more and more of it’s market share. Cagiva bought up the brand in 1993 in attempt to revive the business, but went out of production in 1997 due to financial troubles. Read more
Kevin Williams
Is jail for causing death by dangerous driving appropriate?
Two stories caught my attention last week. The first one turned up in my newsfeed. A young woman was in court several years after she attempted an overtake and ended up in a collision with a taxi. She killed not only the taxi driver but her best friend who was in her passenger seat. She was jailed for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving and the report made a point of saying she had only recently passed her test as if that made her a reckless road user to be overtaking.
She was also driving without insurance between her to cover her for driving between her jobs of cleaning holiday lets. I’m guessing but she may not even have been aware that she needed business use cover for that. I remember having a conversation not too long ago with an IAM observer over the cost of my insurance and his, the main difference being my need to have cover for business use. He wasn’t aware I would need it. Read more
Tips for riding left or right-hand bends equally well
In the last two posts I attempted to answer a common question; why some of us prefer left-hand corners and feel less comfortable on right-handers. I’m not going to go over all the various parts of the answers so far, except to say that in Part One I suggested that the way perceive space, threat and ‘room to manoeuvre’ which has impacts as we ride may have an effect, and that makes sense to me because when I head to France after a break from continental riding I feel less comfortable on left-handers, which are the mirror image. And in Part Two, I looked at possible biomechanical factors, which also make sense seeing as I prefer left-handers on the track, which means it’s nothing to do with the visual perception issues.
A comment that popped up was along the lines of “just go ride more and improve your cornering and you’ll find you won’t be uncomfortable either way”. Though it was said in a rather dismissive way, the response isn’t entirely wrong. But “just ride more” is about as useful as “just relax” — both are so vague as to be meaningless. And “just riding” won’t help us much either, if we don’t have some ideas about what we need to work on. Confidence arises as we build competence, and competence comes from working on the right techniques in the right way. Just riding is not the answer. Read more
How MIPS works plus head impact zones
[Based on an item in Sunday’s LIVE Elevenses webcast]
Most riders judge a crash by how they feel afterwards. If you can stand up and dust yourself off, it’s easy to assume you “got away with it” even if you bashed your head, trashed your helmet and rode home with a headache.
Modern neuroscience explains that the real danger isn’t always a fractured skull but what happens inside your skull in the milliseconds after impact. The brain is a soft, delicate organ suspended in fluid. When your head stops suddenly — even in a “minor” crash — your brain keeps moving. It stretches, twists, and deforms before it catches up.
That deformation, not the impact itself, is what causes most long‑term damage, and this damage can be caused by a glancing impact, the sort that happens when a rider slides off and impacts the head. Read more
No two people view a scene in the same way
This photo popped up on the DocBike Sussex page, and it’s actually an interesting study of how our eyes are drawn not just by contrast but to objects of interest.
The first thing I saw was the Spitfire. A fraction of a second later I saw the contrast camouflaged motorcycle. I showed the pic to my other half. She looked at it for a second. put the phone down and said “the bike is camouflaged”.
I mentioned the plane. She said “what Spitfire?”
Judy’s sat through plenty of iterations of my www.scienceofbeingseen.org presentation to understand the mechanism here making the bike trickier to detect at a quick glance. She’s sat through a few classic war movies too… and still has zero interest in WW2 fighters. Read more
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”
That perceptive quotation is lifted from Anaïs Nin, and captures the rider‑centred nature of misjudgement. She wasn’t talking about motorcycling, but she might well have been watching Sunday riders sweep past in a blur of blithe confidence and selective attention. Her observation captures the uncomfortable truth of so many riding errors, something riders are can be reluctant to admit. So often it’s not the road that always deceives us; it’s mindset. We deceive ourselves.
Take the classic “I didn’t expect that car to pull out” SMIDSY incident. This is an example of how we can be trapped by our expectations of how the world should behave, where everything proceeds according to our own internal script — the one where our progress is smooth, our timing is impeccable, and a story in which other road users exist mainly as background characters who stay out of our way. Read more
www.motoonline.co.uk
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BIKING?
Why not sign up to the FEBRUARY ONLINE eCOURSE?
I’ve just finished putting together a dedicated website for my online coaching at www.motoonline.co.uk where you can find information about both my Survival Skills Eight Week eCourse and my one-hour Online Coaching sessions.
EIGHT WEEK eCOURSE
The eCourse consists of eight sections delivered – as I’m sure you’ve guessed – online. It’s the ORIGINAL eCourse, which I first ran over a decade ago, completely updated. Read more
Decisive? Or Impulsive? A Biker Booby-Trap
One of the trickiest balances in riding is caution versus decisiveness. Get it wrong either way and we can end up creating exactly the problem we were trying to avoid. And something it’s incredibly easy to mistake from the inside out, from our own internal model of how we behave, is to confuse decisiveness with impulsiveness. And a classic example is detecting the difference between a decisive and an impulsive overtake.
They feel similar. They often happen in identical circumstances. They may get the same results. But they are very definitely not the same cognitive process.
Decisive actions solve a tactical problem and the decision is the product of careful assessment. It’s recognition‑primed; we’ve scanned, processed, predicted, and chosen our course of action. The speed comes from pre-preparation. The commitment comes from confidence in the model we’ve built of the situation.
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
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? 
More than 40 Rider Refinement events will take place across East, West and Northern Scotland throughout the spring and summer.
Additional Skills Day session earmarked at Knockhill circuit.
More than 260 people have been killed over a nine-year period in a motorcycle-related collision.
Motorcyclists in Scotland will benefit from a range of events throughout the Spring and Summer with the return of Rider Refinement and an IAM RoadSmart Skills Day at Knockhill circuit. Read more
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
ACEM
New motorcycle registrations in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) reached 1.002.848 units during 2025. This represents a variation of approximately -12,9 % compared to the same period in 2024 (1.150.852 units). Motorcycle registration volumes increase in Spain (242.580 units, +8,3 % year-on-year) while in other markets, results remain negative for the current year with for Italy (331.634 units, -6 %), for France (179.225 units, -16,4 %), for UK (89.645 units, -19,3%) and for Germany (159.764 units, -35,7 %).
Moped registrations reached a total volume of 142.060 units in the six European moped markets monitored by ACEM (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). This registration volume represents a reduction of -20,7 % in comparison to last year at the same period (179.231units). Leaves for Germany, which is experiencing slight growth (15.512 units, 4,9 %), the decline is widespread in all other monitored countries: Spain (13.594 units, -0,8 %), Belgium (26.195 units, -14,9 %), Netherlands (24.069 units, -25,3 %), France (48.526 units -26,4 %), and Italy (14.164 units, -35,1 %). Read more
Motorcycle Industries Association
MCIA has today published the new vehicle registrations for the month of January 2026.
This includes Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles and other vehicles within the wider L-Category (L1 to L7).
The month of January closed with the expected market growth compared to the 2025 owing to the market distortion of the Euro 5 phase out at the end of 2024. The first month of 2026 witnessed a total market increase of 16.1% with the main segments of Motorcycles improving by +12.9% and Scooters by +26.1%.
Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA, said: “It is encouraging to see the market bounce back after a challenging year in 2025 albeit we expected the year-on-year growth considering the large market distortions impacting the end of 2024 and early part of 2025. As an industry we are looking forward to a more positive and stable year in 2026 and hope the political turmoil we continue to witness eventually settles down and the government finally focusses on the country’s economic and business priorities. Read more
National Motorcycle Dealers Association
The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) today responded to the release of the Motorcycle Industry Association’s (MCIA) full-year registration figures, which show the UK market closed 2025 at 93,922 units, a 19.3% decline compared with 2024.
The decline reflects the impact of pre-registrations at the end of 2024 ahead of Euro 5 regulations and ongoing challenges from supply chain disruptions and rising living costs. Despite this, monthly registration trends in the second half of 2025 show a gradual stabilisation, signalling a recovery in market demand.
Symon Cook, Head of the NMDA, said:
“While overall annual registrations are down, we are encouraged by the improving trends through the latter part of 2025.
“Dealers are reporting steady demand for both new and used motorcycles. We look forward to working with government to ensure the sector receives the support it needs to continue rebuilding confidence in 2026.” Read more
National Motorcyclists Council
• Partnership Issues new data revealing AA called out to 613,638 pothole incidents in 2025 – an average of 1,681 every day – including 58,380 last January and 58,275 in December
• Welcomes government’s new traffic light system of monitoring local council performance on fixing potholes BUT says radical new approach is needed
• Proposes that councils and contractors should be compelled to issue 5-year warranties on every non-emergency pothole repair
• Issues reminder that while potholes can damage cars, they put the lives of cyclists and motorcyclists at risk
• Urges greater use of innovation to make repairs permanent, in place of temporary manual ‘patch and run’ fixes which need re-visiting within months or weeks Read more
FEMA
After European Parliament rapporteur Jens Gieseke published his draft report on the European Commission’s proposal to revise the Roadworthiness Package, which includes Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI), Members of the European Parliament have the chance to propose changes to that report.
Gieseke wants all motorcycles over 50 cc to be tested, no exceptions. He also wants to take away the option for member States to exempt motorcycles from compulsory periodic inspections, as long as they demonstrate that effective alternative measures tailored to their countries’ specific characteristics are in place.
Keeping this possibility to exempt motorcycles from compulsory inspections is what FEMA and FIM have been asking for, and reading the amendments that were handed in by the Members of the European Parliament you see below, it shows that we are successful in our efforts. The amendments will be voted on by the Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism in March 2026, after which a full vote in a plenary session of the parliament will follow. Read more
British Motorcyclists Federation
Motorcycle Action Group
While Transport for London makes videos about cyclists and red lights, new research has confirmed what’s killing young motorcyclists – and it’s not all their behaviour.
The National Young Rider Forum (where MAG is a member organisation) has just published their Young Riders Matter report. The findings are stark. Young people aged 16-19 are more likely to be killed or seriously injured on a motorcycle than in a car. And the pattern is brutally consistent.The Junction Problem
Three out of four crashes happen because someone else “failed to look properly” – the official term for a SMIDSY. A third happen at T-junctions. Most are on normal 30mph urban roads. Someone in a car pulls out into someone on a motorcycle going straight ahead. It’s the scenario you navigate every day on your commute, the one where you hang back because you know they haven’t seen you. Read more
You may have seen Transport for London’s latest road safety campaign. Bright posters, slick videos, simple message: “Cyclists must always stop at red lights.” Harmless enough, right?But running red lights isn’t something only people on bicycles do. It’s something people do. The same person who cycles to the station might drive to a meeting later and walk to lunch. They don’t suddenly become a different person with different habits because they’ve changed how they’re travelling. Whether someone jumps a red depends on whether they’re late, whether they think they’ll get caught, whether they can see it’s safe. Not whether they happen to be on two wheels or four. 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.
You need to know that CBT’s may not always be completed in a single day.
Get ready for a long day as the CBT course should last for at least 5 to 8 hours. You will be taught elements in turn and when you are safe to go onto the next element then you progress through all the five stages. The CBT course is completely safety orientated so if you can’t complete all the stages on the day, then a rest and a return later is the best and safest way to progress.
If you are told you need further training to meet the required standard, make sure you understand: 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…
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