Russian Boycott Expands Following the BMF news story on a boycott of Russian motorcycle exports on 11th March, comes news that more manufacturers are lining up to repudiate business with the country, in response to its invasion of Ukraine on 24th February. Meanwhile the EU has announced a blanket ban on all motorcycle exports over EUR 5000 to Russia. The BMF reported that Harley-Davidson was the first manufacturer to pull out of Russia, swiftly followed by Polaris, owner of the Indian brand, and Honda, which has suspended shipments of cars as well as bikes. MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov, who is himself Russian, weighed in, publicly criticising the Russian invasion in an open letter distributed via MV. “My family is shocked, all the

The BMF lobbying team joined fellow members of the National Motorcyclists Council, in the Churchill Room reception, hosted by Sir Bill Wiggins MP. The event was a fantastic opportunity for the team to meet officials and MPs, in an informal session, over tea and sandwiches. The expected attendance was reduced under the impact of a Tube Strike, but the key people, including Minister Harrison were there. The BMF team were down one, Sheonagh Ravensdale, Communications director, having to pull out at the last moment, after testing positive for covid. However, Anna Zee, Political and Technical services director was ably supported by Emily Rochester, Government Relations Executive intern, in engaging with MPs, including Steve Baker and Minister Harrison. The Ministerial address demonstrated that

On-bike radar is developing fast as a means of keeping riders safe from cars with driver-assist features, and the next generation of self-driving cars. BMW, Triumph, Ducati, KTM and Kawasaki already offer a simple form of on-bike radar, but Piaggio has just unveiled a more powerful '4G' system. The Law Commission – whose job is to check our laws are up to date and make recommendations for change – recently proposed an Automated Vehicle Act, which make the manufacturer, rather than the 'driver,' of a self-driving car accountable for accidents. There is evidence that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have more difficulty detecting small vehicles such as motorcycles (or for that matter, cyclists or pedestrians) than bigger ones. The technology is

The BMF has lent its full support to Mental Health Motorbike, a newly registered charity which aims to offer mental health first aid to motorcyclists. “This initiative is brilliant, particularly after two years of the pandemic, which has stressed the mental health of so many, particularly those who live on their own. As suicide is a primary cause of death amongst young men, in particular, this couldn’t be more timely. I wish Paul every success and the BMF will do whatever it can to support MHM,” said BMF Chair Jim Freeman. “The idea came out of a difficult situation,” says founder Paul Oxborough. “We lost a friend to suicide and decided we had to do something about it. Having been a motorcyclist

The BMF is urgently following up allegations that historic motorcycles over 40 years old – exempt from an MOT in the UK – may still need to carry an MOT certificate when travelling in the EU. The question came up when a Triumph Owners Club member was stopped in this week Spain on his 1970 T100SS for a document check. He was asked for an MOT or equivalent certificate and told that his machine could be impounded if he couldn't produce one. Anna Zee, BMF Political and Technical Services Director, commented, “According to gov.uk you need the registration certificate and insurance, and I've never taken any more than that, but I will follow this up.” Dolf Willigers, General Secretary of FEMA (Federation of

Electric scooters have a whole-life emissions output one-fifth of the equivalent 125cc machine. That's the verdict of a new study conducted by the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering, comparing the lifecycle emissions of a Suzuki Burgman 125 and a Torrot Muvi electric scooter, based on typical commuting use in the Spanish city. Electric two-wheelers have zero emissions at the tailpipe but there have been question marks over their lifecycle emissions, which take into account manufacturing and disposal, especially of the battery. This cradle-to-grave approach has been studied for cars many times, but seldom for two-wheelers. The Burgman and its electric equivalent were found to have very similar global warming equivalent emissions for their disposal and recycling, but the Torrot had lower emissions on

The Annual General Meeting of FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations, was held online, via Teams, on Saturday 12th February 2022. The meeting was chaired by Anna Zee, FEMA President, also Director of Political and Technical services, of the BMF. The attendees, 25 from 16 National Motorcycle Organisations (NMO), both inside and outside of the EU, with proxies and apologies from a further 6 NMOs, approved the agenda: A financial report from the Treasurer, BMF chair Jim Freeman, who reported that, despite an operating loss of 6,224 euros, against a projected loss of 14,243 forecast in the 2021 budget, the overall position was a solid foundation for 2022. The Committee voted to accept the financial operations of the Board, approving the

A track day bike with a claimed 220bhp and a weight of just 129.5kg – giving it a MotoGP style power/weight ratio – is nearing production. It's the Crighton CR700, developed by Brian Crighton, the man behind the racing rotary-engined Nortons of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, Crighton has been developing rotary engines for track use. Development of the CR700 has continued since it was first revealed in October 2021, a culmination of work by Brian Crighton at Dorset-based  Rotron Power, which builds rotary engines for unmanned aircraft and where he will assemble the bike. This first rotary-engined machine for many years has fuel injection, a pressurised gas cooling system plus Crighton's own ejector exhaust system, which aids cooling

The BMF is delighted to announce that we have taken over the handling of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) touring events from the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). The first event is the 39th FIM Motocamp – this one is camping only – from 8-11 June 2022. It will be held at Le Tiel in France, on the west bank of the river Rhone, 90 miles south of Lyon and just across the river from Montelimar. The venue is the local rugby club which offers good level camping in a closed, secure location, as well as toilet and shower facilities. The official dates for the rally are from 8th to 11th June, however the site will be open from midday on Monday 6th

Road pricing is likely to replace the current system of fuel duty and VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) in the not too distant future. That's according to the Transport Select Committee of MPs, which has been looking at alternatives. It addresses of what happens as petrol/diesel cars, HGVs, vans and motorcycles are gradually replaced by electric equivalents – how will they be taxed? Currently, the road system is paid for by a combination of fuel duty and VED, which together bring in about £35 billion. The RAC Foundation predicts that as the numbers of petrol/diesel vehicles drops off, this tax revenue will halve by around 2028 and fall to £9 billion by 2035. Electric vehicles (EV) do not pay VED, though this has

The BMF will oppose any efforts to prevent the use of any internal combustion engine powered bike. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and transport decarbonisation specialists, Zemo Partnership, were tasked in the Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan to identify the actions needed to create new UK business and consumer opportunities for zero emission ‘powered light vehicles’ (PLVs). This includes powered two wheelers and other ‘L-Category’ vehicles, as regulation defines them. The publication of the ‘Action Plan’ shows how, working together with industry, the Government can remove barriers, which will allow zero emission PLVs to become significant modes of transport and help ensure industry and consumers are able to fully harness the opportunities they present for the environment, congestion and as affordable personal mobility

National Highways has outlined a whole raft of measures to make the strategic road network safer for motorcyclists, thanks to the diligence of the Motorcycle Working Group, which was set up by the then Highways England in 2015. The specialist subgroup provided briefings on what motorcyclists needed from infrastructure and National Highways has delivered. National Highways 'Guide to Designing for Motorcyclists,' published in April 2021, is a document of best practice aimed at highways engineers, reminding them of the issues faced by motorcyclists, how to maximise their safety and to highlight several changes that have been made to the DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges), the National Highways 'bible' on road design that take into accounts the needs of motorcyclists. These include