Motorcycling Matters No7: Keep Historic Bikes Alive

Triumph, BSA, Norton, Velocette… Britain has a proud motorcycling heritage, now added to by Japanese and European machines over 40 years old, equally part of the UK motorcycle scene. The NMC/BMF manifesto Motorcycling Matters urges that the historic motorcycle sector should be recognised for its economic contribution as well as the positive social engagement and mental health benefits to thousands of riders all over the UK.

Over 400,000 historic motorcycles are registered in the UK, giving their owners hours of fun and contributing to a healthy ‘old bike’ sector with specialist companies in spare parts, restoration work and archive services. For the long-term health of the historic bike sector, there should be no time limit on how long older bikes can be ridden on the road, with the current 40-year cut-off for historic vehicle status kept in place.

Paul Morgan CBE BMF Government Relations Executive said: The next Government needs to ensure that action is taken to preserve an important part of Britain’s rich cultural and engineering heritage; that of restoring, riding and maintaining vintage and classic motorcycles. It is important that a much-loved hobby of tens of 1000’s of enthusiasts across the UK, and an historic conservation industry worth millions of pounds to the UK economy, is fully supported and protected so as to remain available for the enjoyment of future generations.”

You can find more on the BMF’s priorities to secure the future of motorcycling as we head towards the General Election and beyond in the Manifesto Motorcycling Matters which you can access via the article on BMF’s website. In the run up to the election we are seeking to get all Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) to sign up to these priorities by getting them to sign our Motorcycling “Pledge” to support the future of motorcycling.

We are urging all riders to get involved in the campaign and to ask their PPCs to sign the Pledge to confirm their support to our Manifesto priorities. We need your support and action now to deliver a bright and sustainable future for UK motorcycling.

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Jonathan Hoare