UK Bike Sales Fall Flat

June was another disappointing month for motorcycle sales in Britain, according to trade magazine British Dealer News. Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) figures revealed that registrations fell by 5.8% compared to June 2023 – motorcycles were down by 2.4% and scooters by a whopping 18.9%. Central to the fall in scooter sales was a 15.2% drop in the up to 125cc class, which has been strong in recent years, thanks in part to demand from fast food deliveries. Mopeds were marginally up (by less than 1%) but this masked a serious long-term decline in 50cc sales. Back in 2008, over 25,000 new fifties were registered in the UK – by 2023 the figure was just over 5500. Why? Electric bicycles may have grabbed

Chrome Plating Carries On

Chrome plating lives on, despite restrictions on the common Hexavalent process which come into force in September 2024 in the UK. Back in March 2024, the BMF reported that a ban on Hexavalent – which uses toxic chemicals – was under consideration but that alternatives might be available. To read that article please click here. Platers using Hexavalent will now need to apply for a licence. Nottingham Platers, a well-established aftermarket chrome plater, has pointed out that it has been using the non-toxic Trivalent for 26 years, pioneering its use in the UK. “My father-in-law, who was a chemist, came across the Trivalent process in the USA,” the company’s Simon Revelle told the BMF. “We’ve been using it ever since. It’s

£1 billion shortfall in Government Funding for Road Repairs

A Government report has criticised the Department for Transport (DfT) for a lack of understanding of the condition of local roads. The report, by the National Audit Office, recognised that the DfT has kept up annual funding to local authorities for the maintenance of local roads, but pointed out that that the £1.1 billion provided to Councils in 2022-23 was £1 billion short of the £2.1 billion actually spent. Local authorities, already strapped for cash, made up the difference. DfT data suggests that up to 67% of local roads are in “good structural condition”, but figures from an Asphalt Industry Alliance survey (cited in the NAO report), put that at just under half (48%). The NAO report states: “At present, DfT

Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels Consultation

Do you live or travel to London? Then you need to be aware that Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on a proposed "toll" to use the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels to be introduced in spring 2025, that includes a plan to also charge motorcycles using the tunnels. The current proposed charges are set out below. The fee will be the same for both tunnels, but they will vary in peak and off-peak times. As they currently stand, the plans will see motorcycles being charged a slightly reduced price to car and vans during peak times but the same as cars at off-peak time There is no justification for this. TfL say they must bring in charges to ‘manage

Camden Parking Charges – Update

Save London Motorcycling has issued a "Press Release Update" regarding the proposals by Camden Council to introduce new parking charges for motorcycles in Camden (You can Read the Save London Motorcycling Press Release Here) Following opposition from riders and rider organisations, including the BMF, National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and Save London Motorcycling, to the proposed implementation of new parking charges for motorcycles across Camden, the Council has now delayed the statutory consultation on the proposals for motorcycle parking fees until late autumn, whilst pressing ahead with their proposals for cars and other vehicles. This is a significant climb down by Camden Council but the threat to motorcyclists remains. If you live or work in Camden we need riders to email their MP

Bath and North East Somerset Parking Charges

UPDATE *Response sent - read the full BMF response here The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has joined forces with the Motorcyclists Action Group (MAG) to fight illogical and ill-conceived proposals by the local Council to introduce emission-based parking charges for motorcycles across Bath and North East Somerset. The BMF is working closely with MAG and other interested parties, including the National Motorcyclist's Council (NMC), to fight proposals by the council that will see small mopeds charged the same to park as the average family car and motorcycles over 600cc charged the same parking fee as a 3 litre straight-six diesel Range Rover. BMF's Regional Representative Carenza Ellery has joined up with her MAG regional counterpart, Geoff Mills to put together a joint campaign to

BMF response to Bikes in Bus Lanes consultation

The BMF has called on the Government to end the current inconsistent, fragmented and confusing situation on bus lane access for motorcyclists across the UK. Paul Morgan CBE, the BMF's Government Relations Executive said: "The BMF has today submitted its detailed response to the Department for Transport's Open Consultation "Motorcycles in Bus Lanes" calling on the Government to grant default access for motorcycles to bus lanes and resolve the current inconsistent and fragmented approach by local authorities that is impacting on the safety of motorcyclists and other road users. You can read the BMF's response here You can read previous BMF news articles in relation to this here and here Written by Helen Hancock Top image courtesy of Sophie Popplewell – Unsplash

Nissan Dealers to Sell Scooters

Commuters could buy their next scooter at...a Nissan car dealership. Nissan has signed a deal with the Spanish Accoiona Group, which makes the Silence range of electric scooters. Nissan dealers in France and Italy began selling the scooters in June, with Germany due to follow in September and British Nissan dealers in October. Nissan is hoping that the move will enable it to tap into new markets, such as powered two-wheelers, which it has been absent from until now – the Silence range includes 50cc and 125cc-equivalent electric scooters, as well as the two-seater Nanocar, all of which come under the umbrella term of ‘micromobility.’ Nothing to do with motorcycles? Scooters are part of the powered two-wheeler sector, and micro-cars are

BMF Get Together at The Lakeside Diner

BMF Get Together at The Lakeside Diner at Mallory Park Racing Circuit, Leicestershire. Come along and have a meet up in the centre of Mallory Park circuit! Whether you're a BMF member or not, we invite you to ride in and park up centre circuit, meet up and chat with fellow bikers. A place to make friends and talk all things bikes in a fabulous location. Great food and drink will be provided by our co-hosts at The Lakeside Diner and Bar. Everyone welcome: on bikes, trikes, scooters, cars or on foot! Come along and have a chilled out evening lakeside. Mallory Park Circuit Church Road Kirkby Mallory LEICESTER LE9 7QE What 3 Words ///sharpens.respects.exulted Friday 19th July 6 - 9pm Just some of the photos from the night here Motofoto 6-7, Motofoto

Innovative road markings for motorcyclists are successful

Taking the correct cornering line is an absolute must for motorcyclists. KFV, the Austrian Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit, investigated the effect of innovative road markings for motorcyclists in risky Tyrolean curves and provided proof of success: the white ellipses on the road resulted in motorcyclists choosing a safer through curves and a reduction in the number of motorcycle accidents by 80 percent. Taking the corner safely in the correct riding line - that's how it should be. The correct cornering line is an absolute must for motorcyclists - motorized vehicles without a crumple zone. A look at the accident statistics shows that most motorcycle accidents on Austria's roads occur in bends. The cause of many motorcycle accidents is an incorrectly chosen cornering line;

TT Breaks Attendance Records, Despite the Weather

Record numbers of bike fans attended the TT this year, according to figures from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which carried 37,808 passengers between 22nd May and 7th June. That was 11% up on last year, and the highest number travelling to the TT by sea since 1986, apart from the 2007 Centenary celebrations. Race fans flying in also reached record numbers, with over 60,000 touching down at Ronaldsway Airport. The new records were all the more of an achievement when taking into account the weather. Poor weather was forecast, and arrived as high winds and persistent rain, which saw many practice and race sessions postponed and race organisers desperately juggling the schedule to keep everything on track –

Honda Backs Junction Safety Campaign

Honda is boosting a new safety scheme launched in Scotland – #TakeAnotherLook – focusing on the danger to bikers of road junctions and urging drivers to “stop and look again” at junctions. According to Motorcycle Law Scotland, using data from nearly 200 Scottish legal cases for biker casualties in 2022/23, 70% of deaths and injuries were attributed to “errors made by the car or motor vehicle at junctions.” The campaign was founded by three women who lost their husbands to junction collisions – Tracey Marsh, Maureen Rutherford and Jacqueline Dickson. Now Honda is planning to double the reach of the campaign, as well as using its social media channels to promote a petition led by Outlander actor Sam Heughan. This is

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