Joined-Up Approach To Bike Theft Delivers 2025 TT Victory

Merseyside Police, in collaboration with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID Company, Lancashire Constabulary, Isle of Man Constabulary, the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP), the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), and the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), celebrates the continued success of Operation Needle, which significantly reduced motorcycle thefts during the 2025 Isle of Man TT Races (May 26–June 7). This established annual campaign ensures a safer experience for motorcyclists traveling through Liverpool, a key transit hub for the world-renowned event. Operation Needle was directly supported by financial contributions from NVCRP, the MAG Foundation and BMF. These funds enabled enhanced security measures in Liverpool city centre, including Oxford heavy-duty bike chains, additional barriers near hotels, increased police patrols, and electronic detection equipment. The

Ride To Work Day 10 June 2025

“Ride To Work Day” provides an opportunity for individuals to switch from cars or public transport to two-wheels for their daily commute and experience reduced congestion, improved mental health well-being and reduced carbon emissions. “Ride To Work Day” is an international campaign, with similar events happening in other countries across the globe. Its aim is to promote the use of motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters as an important mode of transport, not only for commuting, but as a an affordable and accessible transport option for all ages. Paul Morgan CBE, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive says: “To fully unlock the benefits of motorcycling for improved mobility, better mental health wellbeing and for the environment, motorcycling needs to be fully integrated into the mainstream of

CCM Goes Into Administration

CCM has been placed into administration, after a difficult 2024 which saw output halve to just 150 bikes. The move is a voluntary one by parent company Pitalia Capital, which bought into CCM in late 2021, with an injection of cash to help expansion and pass homologation tests. A post on the company’s Facebook page on 2nd June read: “A legendary name in UK bike manufacturing, known for their handcrafted machines and bold innovation, is now facing uncertain times.” The news comes after months of uncertainty for CCM, which cut back its workforce to just 12 earlier this year, and suffered when Completely Motorbikes, one of its major dealers, closed its doors in October 2024. CCM was left with only eight

Honda Hits 500 Million

How many powered two-wheelers would you say Honda has built since 1949, when Soichiro put the first Dream into production? A few million? It’s actually 500 million – half a billion – an astonishing figure which underlines Honda’s continuing dominance of the world motorcycle market – it grabbed a 40% share of global sales in 2024. But the real story here isn’t that Honda is big (we all knew that) but that its 500 millionth machine was a Activa 125 scooter, which rolled off the production line in Gujarat, India. It was no coincidence that Honda chose to celebrate its 500 millionth bike in India rather than Japan. The company has four factories on the sub-continent, with a combined capacity of over

Motorcycles used as Therapy in Italy

Italian charity No Barriers ODV is causing a stir by offering motorcycle rides as therapy for children and adults with a disability. Set up in 2020, the non-profit organisation states that the low-speed rides stimulate trust, body orientation and connection. No Barriers was defending its work against criticism that motor therapy is merely a recreational or fun activity, with no therapeutic value at all. “This is a superficial judgement,” states No Barriers, “overlooking years of documented experience and, above all, field-based evidence gathered by educators, therapists, physiotherapists, neurologist and clinical psychologists who witness its effects on patients every day.” Motor therapy has also been recognised by the Italian government, with a new law in 2024 making provision for the “recognition and

BMF helps fund Enhanced security in Liverpool ahead of Isle of Man TT

BMF Joins Forces with regional police forces, Liverpool City Council and the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP) to deliver enhanced parking security for motorcyclists travelling to next week's TT races. With the Isle of Man TT races taking place from Monday 26 May to Saturday 7 June, the BMF is helping to fund enhanced security measures for racegoers on their motorcycles stopping off in Liverpool to enjoy the city, before they continue to the Isle of Man by ferry. "Op Needle" is a multi-agency initiative, coordinated by Liverpool City Council, designed to prevent theft of and from motorcycles, and to identify, disrupt and bring to justice anyone involved in motorcycle theft. Additional security measures will be in place in Liverpool from this

KTM Saved, Buell back in the UK

At a time when motorcycle manufacturers are facing mixed fortunes – record sales at Honda and Royal Enfield, while beleaguered Harley-Davidson has seen its Chairman Jochen Zeiz resign – comes good news from KTM and Buell. KTM, which was facing bankruptcy, has been saved by a 600 million euro investment from its manufacturing partner Bajaj Auto, which holds a 49.9% stake in the company. This comes on top of 200 million euro the Indian giant had invested in KTM in March 2025. The Austrian firm had a 23rd May deadline to fulfil its legal obligations and pay 30% of what it owes to creditors – failure to do so would have put its three subsidiaries into liquidation. But Bajaj’s intervention came in

New End-of-Life Vehicle rules: why motorcyclists should be concerned

To increase recycling targets, the European Commission wants to expand the scope of the End-of-Life Vehicles directive to include motorcycles. The European Union is in the process of revising its End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive, legislation that dictates how vehicles are recycled, reused, and disposed of when they reach the end of their life. The proposed changes for a new regulation are part of a broader push towards a circular economy. But there's a catch for us motorcyclists: for the first time, motorcycles may be included under these strict regulations. This move has triggered alarm bells across the riding community, and for good reason. The European Commission wants to expand the scope of the End-of-Life Vehicles directive to include motorcycles (L-category vehicles), as

Skoda Reveals Concept Bike

Which car brand would you least associate with motorcycles? If you answered ‘Skoda’ then think again, because Laurin & Clement, which eventually became Skoda, was building bikes back in 1899. Its Slavia B which, typically of the time, came with pedals and looked like a big pushbike with an engine bolted in, took part in the Paris-Berlin long distance race of 1901. Skoda has decided to celebrate its motorcycling roots with a new Slavia B, but rather than some retro throwback, it’s a futuristic café racer with electric power, styled in what Skoda calls a ‘Modern Solid’ style – think rounded, chunky shapes with bold lines, and you’ve got it about right. Just to emphasise the lack of an engine, there’s

Doncaster Motorcycle Club Celebrates 115th

Is this the oldest continuously running bike club in the UK? BMF- affiliated Doncaster & District Motorcycle Club has just celebrated 115 years since its inaugural meeting on 25th March 1910 at the Woolpack pub in Doncaster. To mark the event, it restaged a photo taken at the time. Doncaster Council cordoned off the road for a 2025 photo, which saw over 40 bikes and riders gathered in front of the pub. Originally named the Doncaster Motorcycle Club, the club added ‘& District’ in 1921 during its first open speed trials at Sandall Beat Road, where competitors raced down a straight mile. Today, the club remains very active, with 30-40 members with ages ranging from 20 to 80. “The club thrives on

EP’s Transport Committee backs deal on EU driving licence rules

A provisional deal on EU driving licence rules introducing a mobile licence and driving disqualification for reckless drivers was approved in the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). A revamped EU driving licence rules, agreed by Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens, DE), in March 2025, seek to contribute to road safety and EU’s digital transition. Digital driving licence Under the provisional agreement a digital driving licence, available on a smartphone with EU-wide digital wallet technology, will become the main format in the EU. However, MEPs managed to ensure that drivers will continue to have the right to request a physical driver’s licence. Novice drivers and health checks EU rules will set a probationary period of at least

Money Wasted on MOT Retests

Bikers spent £47,000 on MOT retests in the 2023/24 financial year, according to research by insurance company Go.Compare. Why is this remarkable? Well, it turns out that many retests after failures were for relatively minor problems, such as headlights, indicators, brake lights, reflectors and tyres. In fact, lights accounted for the lion’s share of more than 15,000 MOT failures, accounting for 11,440 – tyres caused 2500 failures and vehicle identification another 1114. To arrive at the £47,000 figure, Go.Compare combined survey data with official DVSA testing figures to estimate how much was being spent on retests for fairly minor faults. Whatever the exact cause, it’s clear that a simple check of lights and tyres before heading off for the MOT could

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