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

I’ve been asked to write a few words, as a closing comment on 2021, and looking forward to 2022. Something ‘between a Christmas card and the queen’s speech’, apparently, but knowing who said that [thanks Helen!] I’ll take that as I find it. Last year? When we discovered, still are, that Covid wasn’t going to be a ‘one hit wonder’, that we were going to have to live with it. We learnt that making plans was a chancy business, individually and as the BMF. That being careful about mundane things was going to be second nature. That’s enough gloom and doom. We also made progress, in some unlikely ways. For many people the push to get everyone to ‘walk, cycle, public transport’

The BMF does not accept the Government’s views on modernising vehicle standards if that means it will be come harder or even impossible to keep older bikes on the roads. The BMF has called for greater clarity on proposed anti-tampering legislation currently being considered by the Department for Transport. “The BMF disagrees with the proposals as defined because the scope appears unlimited,” said Anna Zee, the BMF's Political and Technical Services Director. “There is no indication of who will enforce the legislation or how.” The BMF has chosen to take part in the consultation but has done so under protest. With this consultation the BMF - and other motorcyclists’ organisations - are forced to answer questions and statements that should not be

Department for Transport officials have tried to reassure representatives of the NMC, including the BMF's Anna Zee, that motorcyclists have nothing to fear from the recent anti-tampering consultation. The original wording of the consultation – a maze of legal language – implied that any modification of a machine could be outlawed, and classed as 'tampering,' although the spirit of the wording was aimed at items which increase noise or emissions, such as aftermarket exhausts without a catalyser. Anna Zee said: “We were invited to a meeting with DfT officials on 27th October to discuss this section of the consultation. They were quick to admit this could have been worded better; it is NOT intended to prevent customisation of bikes or the fitting

The BMF, working with the other members of the NMC, are recommending comprehensive changes to the motorcycle licensing system, to enhance safety and usability. The UK’s exit from the EU provides an opportunity to revise a complex rider licensing system that has not led to road safety improvements October 12, 2021 The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today calling for changes to the UK’s motorcycle licence testing and training regime. In a new position paper published by the NMC (here), the Council outlines how the licensing system has evolved under the EU’s Driving Licence Directive (DLD) regime and has analysed the effect of changes to motorcycle licensing rules since 2009. Training and testing regulations need to fulfil a basic mission – to make motorcycling

The BMF has warned that aftermarket accessories could be under threat by a new government consultation which aims to outlaw 'tampering products.' 'The Future of transport regulatory review consultation: Modernising vehicle standards' to give the consulation its full, unwieldy title, is clearly aimed primarily at items such as rechipping or non-catalysed exhausts, but the 'legalise' language used is fairly broad and could be interpreted in different ways by different authorities. The key phrases in the consultation are these: “We will create new offences for tampering with a system, part or component of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on a road.” The tampering product is defined as, “where a principal effect of the product is to bypass, defeat, reduce the

The British Motorcyclists Federation held it’s AGM today, 9th October 2021, at 11.00. The event, held on Zoom, for the second time, was a great success with 29 attending, from both Clubs and as individual members. Regular business was dealt with briskly, enabling wide ranging discussion on a number of topics. The meeting heard reports from the Chair, Jim Freeman, and fellow Directors Howard Anderson (Finance), Peter Laidlaw (Membership Services), Sheonagh Ravensdale (Communications) and Anna Zee (Political & Technical Services). The meeting was hosted by Helen Hancock, the BMF’s Administrator, who managed the polls and voting. Jim Freeman was re-elected as Chair with 91% of the zoom poll. Sheonagh Ravensdale was confirmed as the Communications Director, also with 91% of the poll. BMF Councillors

The National Motorcyclists Council makes progress, but serious issues remain with motorcycle freighting into the EU. Procedures are emerging for owners transporting their own road registered motorcycles into the EU in vans or on trailers, but serious issues remain for freighting companies. In this update, NMC Chair Anna Zee explores the issues surrounding transporting motorcycles into the EU via vans and trailers and the progress the NMC is making to get new post-Brexit procedures in place. This article follows up from the NMC press release in June 2021 which alerted to problems in this area (here). If you like to take a biking holiday in Europe and you prefer to ship the bike out and back rather than riding it all the