Act Before You REact: Make Motorcycle Tyre Checks Part of Your Routine

As Tyre Safety Month draws to a close, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on the simple steps we can all take to make our journeys safer. This October, the campaign has encouraged road users to think ahead, prepare for the unexpected and take action before a problem arises. From understanding stopping distances and challenging overconfidence to learning from near-misses, the message throughout the month has been clear: preparation matters. For motorcyclists, that starts with something simple as looking after your tyres. A few minutes can make a difference Our motorcycle tyres are our only contact with the road, playing a vital role in grip, braking and handling. Yet checking them can easily slip down the priority list when we're busy getting ready for

BMF Goes to Holyrood

BMF gives evidence to Scottish Parliament on behalf of the Pothole Partnership, calling for long-term investment in better-maintained and safer roads. The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has called on the Scottish Government to make road maintenance a funding priority, following its appearance before the Scottish Parliament’s Transport Committee on Wednesday 28 October. Appearing on behalf of the Pothole Partnership during the Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny, BMF Government Relations Executive Paul Morgan CBE highlighted the growing maintenance challenge facing Scotland’s road network and the need for a properly funded, long-term programme of preventative maintenance. The scale of the challenge is considerable. Scotland faces an estimated £3.1 billion maintenance backlog across its trunk road network, while around 35% of local authority roads require some form of

BMF Connects with Riders at Museum Live 2026

A weekend of conversations, new connections and a shared passion for motorcycling saw the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) take its own stand at Museum Live for the first time in a while. The National Motorcycle Museum welcomed riders, enthusiasts, families and businesses on the 24th and 25th October for Museum Live 2026, celebrating motorcycling heritage and the people who keep it alive. For the BMF, the event was an opportunity to meet motorcyclists face to face, introduce the BMF to new audiences and share more about the work it does to represent and support riders across the UK. Connecting with the motorcycling community From catching up with familiar faces to meeting younger riders and hearing their stories, the weekend provided plenty of opportunities to

Motorcycle conference: we need better roads, safer vehicles, effective training

Making motorcycling safer requires more than focusing on the rider. Better roads, safer vehicles, effective training, improved protective equipment and evidence-based public policies must work together. That was the central conclusion of the second International Motorcycle Safe Mobility Conference, held in Zaragoza, Spain, on 21 and 22 October 2026, where General Secretary Wim Taal spoke for FEMA. The event brought together 47 speakers from 40 organisations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the European Commission, universities, motorcycle manufacturers and riders’ organisations, including the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA). At the conference global evidence on road deaths, injury prevention, rider training, vehicle technology and safer infrastructure were presented across two days. The conference explored how research, international

Section 59…

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), working with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), calls for clearer guidance and reassurance on the enforcement by the police of Section 59 motorbike seizures designed to tackle anti-social behaviour. Rider reports prompt letters to the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Policing Minister over misuse of Section 59 powers The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has called for clearer guidance for front line police officers to be issued, following reports of motorcycles being seized, or riders threatened with seizure, in circumstances that appear to fall outside the intended scope of strengthened Section 59 powers. These were introduced as part of the Policing and Crime Act 2026. Since the removal of the prior-warning requirement in June 2026, NMC organisations the

NMC Welcomes Additional Funding for Pothole Repairs

£220 million in further funding has been released for roads repairs and maintenance and The NMC calls for repairs to be permanent and warrantied. The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today (22nd October 2026) welcomed the DfT’s announcement of additional for pothole repairs. The DfT has also said that Nearly 7,000 miles of road resurfacing will be completed this year according to new figures published today. Data from local councils shows over 10% more resurfacing than took place last year as data also shows that councils are starting to increase roads funding, with £4.9 billion being spent this year. The additional £220 million is intended to be incentive-based funding to councils across England for meeting performance-based targets. Further funding will be released

Motorcycling MEPs take dialogue with riders onto the road

Members of the European Parliament's Motorcycling MEP Club invited representatives of FEMA, FIM and ACEM for a motorcycle ride in the Strasbourg area and Germany’s Black Forest on 7 October 2026, bringing European motorcycling policy closer to the realities of the road. Established on 1 July 2026, the Motorcycling MEP Club is a cross-party initiative within the European Parliament designed to strengthen dialogue between Members of the European Parliament and the motorcycling sector. Its work covers issues that directly affect riders, including vehicle requirements, licensing, infrastructure, emissions and the future of personal mobility. FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations, FIM, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, and ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, participate as official observers. Together the organisations bring

BMF at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show

**Staffordshire County Showground | 10–11 October 2026** The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) attended The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, sponsored by Carole Nash, at Staffordshire County Showground on 10–11 October 2026. The BMF was invited to attend alongside Mary Lomas of Fletchers Solicitors and Mental Health Motorbike, with the team based in the main hall alongside Fletchers, the BMF's legal partner providing the **dedicated BMF Legal Line** for members. The weekend provided an opportunity to engage with riders, welcome new members and reconnect with long-standing members, while highlighting the Federation's work to represent and support motorcyclists. Membership and Rider Support Peter Laidlaw, the BMF's Membership Services and Events Director, reported that the team remained busy throughout the weekend, signing up new members, answering questions and

New Section 59 Rules

Police Can Now Seize Your Bike Without a Warning: BMF Explains the New Section 59 Rules A significant change to police powers relating to the seizure of vehicles came into force earlier this year in England and Wales. There has been some confusion among motorbike riders as to the extent of the new police powers and concern that the police themselves may in some circumstances be interpreting the new legislation incorrectly. The following advice is designed to clarify the current position, whilst setting out what riders can do to ensure they do not fall foul of the new powers of seizure. The key change is that since 29 June 2026, police officers no longer have to give a warning before seizing a vehicle

National motorcycling bodies call for an extended freeze on fuel duty as pump prices worsen

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) are calling on the Government to extend the freeze on fuel duty as rising pump prices put renewed pressure on motorcyclists, commuters and businesses. With fuel costs continuing to rise, the NMC and BMF say the impact is being felt particularly by people who depend on motorcycles and scooters for everyday transport — including commuters, students, younger riders and the thousands of people working in the delivery and gig economy. The Government has confirmed that fuel duty will not increase this year and that the temporary 5p-per-litre reduction will remain in place until 31 December. However, with motorists once again facing higher prices at the pumps, the NMC and BMF are urging

Graduated Licensing in Northern Ireland: Better Training Must Deliver Safer Riders – Not New Barriers

Major changes to the way new drivers and motorcycle riders are trained and licensed in Northern Ireland come into force from 1 October, with the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) taking a close interest in whether the new approach can improve novice rider safety without creating unnecessary barriers to motorcycling. Northern Ireland will introduce Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) from 1 October 2026, representing one of the most significant reforms of driver and rider training and licensing there for decades. The underlying principle is that learning to drive or ride should be about developing a safe and responsible road user, rather than simply acquiring sufficient technical competence to pass a test. The reforms are intended particularly to address the disproportionate involvement of younger and inexperienced

Bike & Brew Passport 2026: Final Days to Collect Your Stamps

There are only a few days left to collect your final Bike & Brew Passport stamps, with the 2026 event drawing to an end on the 30th of September. The Bike & Brew Passport, a Make Your Mark initiative, gives motorcyclists the opportunity to discover new roads and places across England and Wales (and Scotland next year), visit biker-friendly venues and enjoy a brew along the way, while bringing riders together through a shared love of motorcycles and exploring. If you have been taking part this year, here is what you need to know about what happens next. What happens after the 30th of September? Although the event finishes on the 30th of September, there will be an opportunity to have your passport stamps counted on

Top