BMW has filed a patent for 'adjustable air deflectors' to improve comfort at low speed and aerodynamic efficiency when tanking along. The surprise, given the German company's love of complex high tech, is that the new system doesn't use electronics or clever speed sensors – just good old-fashioned springs. Moto Guzzi's new V100 Mandello has adaptive bodywork with the same end in mind – moveable flaps in the fairing are flush at high speed, but move outwards into the air stream to reduce turbulence when cruising more slowly. Servo motors move the flaps, controlled by electronics. BMW's system is much simpler. The flaps are hinged at their forward end and held open by springs. The faster you go, the air pressure increases,

Speed limiters will mandatory on all new cars sold in the UK from 6th July, but the new law doesn't apply to motorcycles. Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is a software system which automatically limits speed to whatever limit is prevailing, though it can be overridden by the driver. Many car manufacturers already fit ISA, including Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot/Citroen, Volvo and Renault. Anna Zee, Political and Technical Services Director of the BMF, explained the context. “ISA is part of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) passed by the EU in October 2021 and includes a number of items besides ISA, such as Automatic Emergency Braking. Yes, we will see this on cars sold in the UK because there is no law to say they

Noise cameras will be trialled in four areas of England and Wales this summer – the BMF has already reported that Paris had begun the widespread use of noise cameras (see here), which can automatically detect individual cars and bikes breaking noise limits. The cameras can also provide real-time reports which are acceptable to the police as evidence. Noise cameras are already in limited use by Westminster Council around Waterloo Place and Exhibition Road, but this new move could be the precursor to a nationwide roll-out of the new technology. The location of the four trial areas has yet to be decided, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is inviting residents to lobby their MP to submit applications to take part. “We want

Heading to Austria this summer, and have a liking for biking acrobatics? Then beware, because the Austrian government is cracking down on wheelies, stoppies and other vehicle shenanigans – fines go up to 10,000 euros and your bike could be impounded for three days. The Austrian Motor Vehicles Act has been amended to outlaw boy racerish games such as drifting, tyre squealing and backfiring. “Non-situational use of the motor vehicle in which there is not contact between the road surface and all wheels at all times," is also outlawed – in other words, wheelies and stoppies. Wheelspins, wheel locking and doughnuts join the banned list as well. The rules apply to quiet areas such as private car parks just as much as

Norton, now revived under ownership of Indian giant TVS, and with a new factory in Solihull up and running, is underlining its long heritage by buying up key historic models. A total of 55 bikes have been bought from Norton collector Ian Loram, who had built up the collection since the 1990s. Stretching from 1916 to 1992, they include some of the rarest Nortons ever made, including a Model 1 Big Four, a rare speedway bike from 1930 and an example of the rotary-engined Norton F1, road going version of the RCW588 race bike from the early '90s. There's also a 1968 Norton Atlas which was used for royal escort duties when new. Some of the bikes will go on display in

Dambuster 6  Designed as a traditional, laid-back camping rally, the BMF Dambuster Rally has become a very special annual motorcycling event. It’s complete with live music, fantastic food, a venue steeped in history and an excellent ride-out location to explore the fabulous Lincolnshire countryside, or even a trip to the sea-side. 2022 will be the BMF Dambuster Rally’s sixth anniversary. Live bands will be performing on the Friday and Saturday evenings. Thorpe Camp Visitors Centre, Lincolnshire is the ideal venue to celebrate the heroic deeds of the famous Dambusters raid in 1943. You can pitch your tents among the historic display planes and World War Two artefacts – and it’s situated in deepest Lincolnshire ‘Bomber County’. All of the museum’s buildings will be open

The BMF has welcomed the dismissal of the so-called Vnuk judgement – a Private Members Bill to prevent implementation has been passed by Parliament. The ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2014, prompted by an accident involving a tractor, was that third party insurance should be compulsory for all mechanically propelled vehicles used on all private and public land. Intended to protect against injuries from agricultural vehicles, the ruling placed a huge question mark over the future of motorsports, whose costs would have been increased hugely had the ruling been universally applied. One EU country, Finland, which had introduced a law similar to Vnuk, found premiums escalating from a low cost to thousands of Euro per annum per person.

Ex-Dakar rider Simon Pavey was refused entry to France by customs officials in late March 2022, after being told that he needed an Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission Carnet, also known as ATA carnet. Simon and son Llewelyn were on their way to the Olympia Rally in Greece, travelling with two bikes in the back of their camper van. French customs officials based at the English end of the Channel Tunnel refused to allow them out of the UK, telling them that they had to obtain a carnet to take the bikes into the EU, and imposing a 500 euro fine. One bike belonged to Simon, the other to KTM UK, but the officials did not ask who owned them. Llewelyn Pavey,

We are campaigning to expand motorcycle access to bus lanes, but we need your help! The decision to allow bikes in bus lanes is down to local authorities, so we are looking for people from different regions to talk to their local councillors about this issue. If you wish to help, please find out who is your local authority by entering your postcode here on the gov.uk website, you should be able to find out who manages the roads and pavements. Once you have found the contact information for your local councillor, please write to them outlining why you feel that motorcycles should be allowed in bus lanes. If you are unsure of who to contact, please contact us and we may

Over 60,000 drivers and riders have sent dashcam footage to the police since 2017, highlighting dangerous driving. One in three cases were actioned by the police, which are encouraging us to upload evidence of law breaking such as use of phones while driving or crossing solid white lines. “The use of dashcam evidence has been variable across different forces, there have been instances reported to the BMF of recordings of serious incidents, involving serious injuries to riders, with GPS locators and third-party recordings being ignored, for unstated reasons, by local accident investigators. Any attempt to co-ordinate and standardise the way this is done, has to be a good idea. That Lincolnshire is joining the ranks, that’s a positive step. In a