Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 27 March 2026
Table of Contents
Editorial
UK motorcycling has eased into spring with a week that mixed hard economics, new‑season race prep and a quiet but telling shift in kit and tech priorities.
Industry and politics
Bennetts’ recent deep‑dive on the state of UK motorcycling is still setting the tone for policy and industry debate in early 2026, highlighting how rising living costs and insurance premiums are reshaping what younger riders can actually afford to buy and run. The piece underlines that commuter‑friendly middleweights and A2‑friendly machines are increasingly where the volume is, while big‑ticket flagships rely more than ever on older, wealthier enthusiasts. Against that backdrop, manufacturers and dealers have leaned into finance offers and used‑bike promotions through March rather than headline‑grabbing new‑model launches in the UK.
In racing politics, the British Superbike paddock has effectively fired the starting gun on its 2026 storyline, with Honda Racing UK confirming Jason O’Halloran and Danny Vickers as its Superbike spearhead and talking up a return to consistent podium form. In the support classes, McAMS Yamaha has been busy shaking down the new R9 platform in Quattro Group British Supersport testing, a significant shift as middleweight racing moves away from the old 600cc four‑cylinders towards modern road‑bike derivatives. For an 18‑year‑old club racer, that matters: the bike you can buy in a showroom is getting closer again to the one at the sharp end of national championships.
Racing and performance
At the world level, MotoGP testing coverage has been dominated by Marc Márquez adapting to Ducati’s GP26, with Roadracing World flagging this season as the end of the current extreme aero era, including the huge wings and shape‑shifting devices that have defined the last few years. That rule tightening will push engineers back towards chassis, rideability and tyre conservation, which should help close racing and make the on‑screen bikes look a little more familiar to road riders. Meanwhile, Red Bull Ring’s season preview highlights Austrian youngster Leo Rammerstorfer stepping up to Moto3 with SIC58, marking the first new Austrian full‑time Grand Prix rider since Maximilian Kofler in 2021 and giving KTM’s home fans someone new to shout for.
In production‑based racing, the 2026 World Supersport season opened with Jaume Masia taking a dominant first‑race win and Australia’s Oli Bayliss rescuing a home‑round podium after a big moment off‑track, his first in the class and Triumph’s first at home since the series switched to its Next‑Generation ruleset. That result quietly reinforces Triumph’s decision to re‑enter WorldSSP with the Street Triple‑based package that keeps the brand visible. Younger performance‑bike buyers might otherwise look straight to the traditional Japanese and Italian names. [
Bikes, kit and tech
On the product side, March print issues and teasers rather than launches have carried the most substance this week. Ultimate Motorcycling’s March 2026 preview trails real‑world tests of BMW’s new R 1300 R roadster, the latest Zero S electric sportbike and Indian’s Chief Vintage cruiser, signalling how conventional petrol roadsters, heavyweight Americana and evolving electric platforms are now co‑existing in the same editorial spotlight rather than fighting for it. Their feature on Shoei’s X‑Fifteen helmet is framed as a MotoGP‑derived, premium race lid. It has strong ventilation and reduced drag at speed. Now that is the sort of all‑day comfort that matters just as much on a wet commute as it does on a race tuck.
Looking slightly wider than the UK, Indian‑market coverage has continued to trail other brands. The March‑timed launch of Royal Enfield’s Bullet 650 twin is an evolution of the firm’s 648cc platform. It is aimed at riders who want traditional styling with modern brakes and ABS. The same reports point to Yamaha preparing an Aerox‑branded electric scooter and Royal Enfield working on a Flying Flea‑inspired electric lightweight. This underlines a broader trend: even the most heritage‑driven brands now see small EVs as part of their future city‑bike line‑up. For young riders watching from Britain, it’s a reminder that the next genuinely affordable step after a 125 might just as easily be battery‑powered as petrol, but it will depend on how quickly UK infrastructure and pricing catch up.
Whatever happens in the market, bikers will continue watching the latest developments. They will also develop their knowledge and skills to become better at managing risks and hazards in an ever-changing world. Ride safe and happy reading.
It HERE AGAIN: SAM Annual Photo Competition 2026. The subject for entries is: Motorcycles. Any image content that is motorcycle related. Send all entries by email to sam-editor@iam-sheffield.bike, in the following format:
Subject line: Photo Competition 2026 (use this exact wording)
Image Type: no AI generated images!! All images should be either: .jpg, .jpeg, .png only.
Image Title as the filename: the title of your image should be in the format This-is-my-entry.png, i.e. rename your image file with the title of your image and put a dash, ‘-’, between each word.
The closing date for entries is midnight on the 27th April 2026 – that is 31 days time, so make sure that you get your images to us.
The winner will be announced at the SAM AGM Meeting on the 11th May 2026 and receive a framed print of their choice.
If you have any problems submitting your entry, email SAM member, Dave Whitman (Competition Coordinator) will be happy to help.
Your success is our success!
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
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
Zongshen patent shows planned three-wheeler
Tilting three-wheelers aren’t a new idea. As well as modern machines like the Piaggio MP3, Yamaha Niken with two front wheels and one at the back, there were older versions like the BSA Ariel 3 of 1970 with two rear wheels and an engine on a platform that remained horizontal as the front section of the bike leant into corners. That short-lived machine is widely blamed for BSA’s demise in 1973 but formed the basis of a successful line of 1980s Hondas including the Gyro that remains available to this day.
Despite that long history, we haven’t seen a tilting trike quite like the one that’s just emerged in a new patent application from Chinese brand Zongshen, best known for its Cyclone range of motorcycles.This patent illustrates a leaning three-wheeler with two back wheels and one front, based on a conventional motorcycle frame but with two swingarms instead of one, each carrying its own wheel. Read more
Motorcycle racer Emilia Dobrev discusses her racing career and what it’s like to compete as a woman in mixed-gender racing on this week’s episode of Full Chat.
Dobrev has competed in top competitions such as the Ultimate Cup Moto and combines her racing career with being an influencer and fashion model.
She sat down with Iwan Thomas and co-host David Prutton to speak about her love of all things two-wheeled and her varied career. Read more
Indian EV mobility startup Matter is the latest company to lean hard into the highly debated AI conversation, rolling out what it calls an “AI-Defined Vehicle,” or AI.DV. It sounds like a big leap forward, the kind of phrase that instantly grabs attention and makes you think something fundamentally new is happening.
But once you dig into what they’re actually describing, it starts to look a lot more familiar. Centralized computers, over-the-air updates, connected systems, sensor-driven adaptability. All of it is relevant, all of it is important, but none of it is particularly new in today’s automotive landscape. Read more
To be involved in the off-road racing scene right now is to witness Stark stamp its name into the history books over and over again.
There was controversy when a last-minute rule change effectively targeted the OEM and ensured they couldn’t race in the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, before another rule change saw the company enter and take the manufacturers’ title the very next year. Now, Stark has become the first electric motorcycle company to put together a team for the FIM EnduroGP World Championship.
Until now, the FIM has not allowed electric motorcycles to compete in the EnduroGP World Championship, but as of 2026, they can race alongside their ICE counterparts in Enduro1/2/3 classes. Stark was the first to put its hand up and only thus far. The Spanish manufacturer recently announced the launch of its OxMoto EnduroGP Team, a dedicated racing program set to race the Stark VARG EX in the 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship, with entries in both the E2 and E3 classes. Read more
Riding two up ain’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Don’t get me wrong, I love riding with my wife as my backpack. But sometimes, when you head off pavement, what you really want and need is an actual backpack and not a person who subtly shifts their weight around or who can’t stand up on the rear pegs. It’s not a knock against our partners; it’s just physics.
And what happens when you need to make a technical in a battlefield situation? Are you really going to go for something along the lines of a Honda Cub or do you want something with some triangulation to ensure your fortification reduces the felt recoil of your machine gun? Exactly, you want the three points of contact! What the hell am I talking about, you ask? Motorcycles with sidecars, folks, that’s what. Read more
Electric mobility is in a strange but interesting place right now. The explosive growth of EVs has cooled a bit, but innovation hasn’t slowed down. Manufacturers are still experimenting with ideas that simply weren’t possible with internal combustion platforms. In the two-wheeled world, that means electric bikes are becoming more than just cleaner commuters. They’re increasingly turning into rolling tech platforms packed with sensors, software, and connectivity.
That’s where a company like Omoway comes in. The startup was founded by former executives from Chinese EV maker Xpeng, a brand known for pushing advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous tech in cars. Omoway’s approach is similar. Instead of building just another electric scooter, the company wants to bring car-style smart mobility technology into the motorcycle world. 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...
Seeing how criminal gangs move their operations around the UK can help motorcyclists realise the importance of locking their bikes, and be more prepared when thefts rise in their area.
This map shows the increases and decreases of motorcycle and scooter thefts by comparing the last full month’s data with the month before that. Remember – this is a MONTHLY overview. Read more
Japanese Street Scramblers: Honda CL360
By the mid-1970s, Honda’s motorcycle division faced reduced investment and relied on revisions of existing models. This article examines developments around the CB350/360 series and the continuation of the street scrambler concept between 1974 and 1976.
This was a very early CL360, sold in America.
This was a very early CL360, sold in America.
Honda under pressure
By the mid-1970s, the street scrambler trend was beginning to run out of steam, but Steve Cooper looks at a model which kept the faith until the end.
As mentioned previously, Honda’s move into automobiles had serious implications for its two-wheeled division. With only so much capital to go around, something had to give and it was motorcycle side of things that inevitably suffered. Read more
Adventure & Touring
A charity for young riders that was forced to close after thieves ransacked their training fleet is ready to reopen later this month – thanks to the intervention of British motocross legend Dave Thorpe and an outpouring of public support following an appeal in MCN.The Richmond Area Motorcycle Project (RAMP), based at Risedale School in Catterick Garrison, will restart activities on March 30 after securing replacement bikes following a break-in late last year, with courses due to kick off in April.
The volunteer-run scheme lost four Honda CRF125Fs when criminals targeted their storage facilities in early December 2025. A smaller machine was also taken but has since been recovered, albeit with significant damage.
Before losing their fleet, RAMP had operated almost every weekend from March to October for the last 20 years, using off-road bikes to engage 13– to 19-year-olds and provide structured training in road safety, maintenance, and the legal aspects of riding – while working with North Yorkshire Youth, PCSOs, Youth Justice and others. Read more
Almost a quarter of UK drivers admit they don’t feel confident sharing the road with motorcyclists, according to new research from insurance broker Carole Nash. The survey found that 24% of motorists feel uneasy navigating around bikes, with the figure rising sharply to 50% among younger drivers aged 18–24. A third of respondents also said they would prefer driving when there are fewer motorcycles on the road, compared to only 15% said they enjoy seeing more riders out and about. Read more
History & Custom
In the early 1970s, the Triumph Trident T150 was a machine caught between two worlds. With its 741cc transverse triple producing 58 bhp and a top speed north of 115 mph, it had the heart of a champion. Yet, it struggled to maintain its footing against the “Superbike” onslaught from Japan. By 1972, Triumph was fighting back with five-speed gearboxes and conical hubs, but for those who truly wanted to go racing, the factory blueprints were merely a starting point.
Fast forward thirty years, and Davide Caforio of Ruote Fiere in Monza, Italy, found himself staring at a T150 that had been left to rot. It was a skeleton of a bike—incomplete, unloved, and stationary for three decades. When the owner presented Davide with two identical Tridents—one complete for restoration and one a basket case—the path was clear: one would return to the history books, while the other would be rebuilt as a tribute to 1970s English racing grit. Read more
Kevin Williams
‘Developing a view’: a Biker Booby Trap
Why is positioning so important? In a single sentence, we position to avoid coming together with a hazard — whether that hazard is part of the scenery or another road user.
One of the key aspects of motorcycle positioning is maximising the rider’s line of sight. By using the available width of the lane intelligently, a rider can see further ahead and detect threats earlier. That extra distance translates directly into extra time: time to assess what is happening, adjust speed, alter line, move to a fresh position, or simply allow another road user to see us sooner. All of those things improve safety. Read more
Numbers mean different things to different people…
[Based on Sunday’s Elevenses live webcast]
…particularly when they are framed deliberated to make us interpret them in a particular way. And it’s something councils are exploiting when reporting on performance. In a recent Elevenses, I mentioned how a council was reporting their ‘success’ in fixing potholes by reporting the numbers filled in. The latest to provide that data West Berkshire council.
Their recent press report on road maintenance stated:
“In 2025 alone, we repaired 2498 potholes.”
First, let’s just say one thing. I am not disputing the claims made by the statement.
Let’s do the sums; given there are roughly 220 working days a year that’s a little over 11 a day. Or just over one and a third potholes per hour.
We can look at it another way. The council area extends over 272 square miles, so they fixed 9.2 potholes per square mile last year across the entire council area. . Read more
Turning ‘observation’ into ‘active scanning’
One of my least-favourite expressions in riding is “lift your eyes and look as far ahead as possible”. Why? Simple enough; it pre-supposes everything we need to see on the road appears at the Limit Point, and that if we see it as it appears we’ll be forewarned. The reality is, and it’s obvious when we think about it, not everything that we need to know about will appear so handily. Vision on the road is not passive ‘reception’; it’s active ‘interrogation’.
The problem with “look as far ahead as possible” is that it it tells us very little about developing risk. Most hazards don’t announce themselves neatly at maximum range; they emerge as range closes and our visual definition sharpens enough to make sense of what we’re seeing (think potholes, loose gravel or the difference between a damp patch and a diesel spill), they appear indirectly (maybe as reflections in windows or movement in peripheral vision) and they appear laterally, as gaps in hedges that reveal side roads and previously hidden vehicles. Read more
What might rider training look like based on aviation?
*** COMMENT *** What might rider training look like based on aviation?
[Based on the in-depth item in Sunday’s live Elevenses webcast]
If we designed the rider and driver system today from scratch, but used a similar structure to that used in learning to fly, the licence system might look very different; a graduated system, although aviation doesn’t usually use that exact term where the structure is progressive, and privileges would expand as the ‘pilot’ gains training and certification. Read more
Meet Mr Toad; he’s in your head too
Remember Mr Toad from The Wind in the Willows? The moment he gets behind the wheel, he doesn’t just drive. He transforms into ‘Toad, the Terror of the Highway’, convinced that the world should move aside as he charges into the distance.
We laugh because he’s absurd. But here’s the interesting thing about Mr Toad. He isn’t reckless just because of his ego or bravado. He’s reckless for the same reason that nudges sensible riders across the line from “making progress” into “taking risks”.
When Toad transforms behind the wheel, that’s dopamine talking. High speed thrills and successful overtakes trigger the brain’s reward system which pumps dopamine into the blood stream, and dopamine says” this feels good, do it again”. Toad is on a dopamine high. Read more
Crash Scene: OVERTAKE
AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW
Motorcycle crashes don’t happen by magic, nor through bad luck. Most result from predictable human error, errors that repeat year in, year out and result in the same old crashes.
The ‘Crash Scene’ series are the first-ever books to offer clear and accessible evidence-based roadmaps for understanding common motorcycle crashes — not as unavoidable and random events, but as solvable problems.
‘Crash Scene: OVERTAKE’ pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood and high-risk manoeuvres in motorcycling, exposing the hidden traps that catch out even experienced riders.
The book breaks down the anatomy of overtaking risk with clarity, evidence, and a rider’s eye for the real world. If you’ve ever wondered why overtakes go wrong — and how to make sure yours don’t — this is your essential guide.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD from the Ko-Fi SHOP
‘Too Long, Didn’t Read’ & how your screen size matters
Over the last two weeks, I’ve explained why I’m not going to write shorter articles just to please the ‘TLDR swipers’ and how it’s not so likely my writing is “too long and boring” so much as your brain’s desire for a pleasurable hit of Dopamine that’s tricking you into thinking that. This week, we’ll look at another issue that most of us won’t know about; how the screen on which you are reading this article affects your decision to carry on reading or swipe to the next story.
I’ve been told my facebook articles are ‘too long, didn’t read’. Since they don’t often extend much further than the bottom of my ‘not-exactly-enormous’ PC monitor, that got me thinking. Maybe the problem is not the content, not the platform but the device being use to read the article. A phone invites a quick swipe since only a few paragraphs are visible at any one time. Read more
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? 
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
February 2026 L-Category (Scooters, Motorcycles & other light vehicles) New Vehicle Registrations
MCIA has today published the new vehicle registrations for the month of February 2026.
This includes Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles and other vehicles within the wider L-Category (L1 to L7).
The month of February closed with welcome market growth of 14.7% compared to the same month in 2025 and year to date growth of 15.5%, with the main segments of Motorcycles improving by +17.3% and Scooters by +9.2%. Read more
National Motorcycle Dealers Association
“It is encouraging to see the motorcycle market showing signs of recovery in the first two months of 2026,” said Symon Cook, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), in response to the latest L-Category vehicle registration figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).
Motorcycle registrations in February increased by 17.3% compared with the same month last year, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 14.7%. The wider L-Category vehicle market, which includes mopeds, scooters and other light vehicles, has also shown positive momentum following a challenging period for the sector. Read more
National Motorcyclists Council
The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has today revealed that local authorities in England and Wales now face a record £18.62 billion backlog of carriageway repairs that would take 12 years to clear, despite an increase in funding. This is the key message that comes from this year’s AIA Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey.
The AIA says that additional investment from both central government and local authority’s own sources has led to a 17% increase in average highway maintenance budgets in England and Wales, yet only marginal improvements in conditions have been reported.
Around half (51%) of the local road network is reported to be in good structural condition, with 15 years or more life remaining, up 3% from last year. However, almost one in six (16%) local roads – equivalent to over 32,500 miles – is reported to have less than five years’ structural life remaining. Read more
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has welcomed the news that Hackney Council has been forced to significantly scale back its unsustainable proposals for motorcycle parking charges. This followed sustained political pressure and legal action from the local community. This was spearheaded by grassroots campaign group Save London Motorcycling (SLM), with support from the NMC, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF).
The Council’s original policy, first proposed in 2020, would have seen riders facing charges of up to £12,500 per year (£50 a per day). This was part of an explicit intention to preventing motorcycle commuter parking in the London borough. Instead, as a result of action by SLM the motorcycle lobby and the local community, the Council has slashed daily rates to just £1.20–£2.60 depending on location, cut residents’ motorcycle parking permit costs down to just £38 for most, and introduced free parking for electric motorcycles. This was agreed via an out of court settlement. Read more
FEMA
FIM, supported by FEMA, has sent a letter to Jens Gieseke MEP, rapporteur on the revision of the Roadworthiness Package, urging him to maintain Member State flexibility regarding periodic technical inspections (PTIs) for motorcycles.
The letter is also co-signed by 21 national motorcyclists’ associations, in a historical cooperative effort to prevent the European Parliament from making a big mistake.
The letter states: “We recognise and support the shared objective of improving road safety across the European Union and are involved in many projects to improve rider safety. However, extending mandatory PTIs to motorcycles – particularly through lowering the threshold to include motorcycles under 125cm3 as suggested in your draft report – raises serious concerns regarding proportionality, cost-effectiveness, and territorial fairness. Mandatory PTIs for motorcycles fail the proportionality test.” Read more
British Motorcyclists Federation
Motorcycle Action Group
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…
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