African Motorcycle Taxis Hit Trouble

Poor quality helmets and lack of infrastructure have been blamed for a sharp rise in motorcycle casualties in some African countries. Road deaths across Africa have risen by 17% in the past decade, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures, compared to a 5% average drop across the whole world. The WHO puts this partly down to a general rise in motorised traffic in Africa, but particularly to the increase in small motorcycles used as taxis, the famous ‘boda boda,’ of East Africa. “About 10 years ago we saw a big increase in motorcycles in Kenya,” said Gladys Nyachieo of the Multimedia University of Kenya. “Very quickly we saw an increase in motorcycle-related accidents.” Helmets are compulsory in both Kenya and Rwanda,

New Year Message from the chair

Looking good for 2024? We certainly are, this is an exciting time for motorcyclists, with technical development streaking into the future. The redefining of what a motorcycle is and the expectations of what a motorbike actually means are happening all around us. Only this week Honda, synonymous with ‘motorcycle’ for many people, have announced a wide range of electric bikes and a significant plan for Internal Combustion Engine bikes, with investment to match. The BMF are expanding in membership, still the Number One in representing riders of all types of bikes , without exception. The BMF has always been a big umbrella to protect riders of mopeds, off roaders, and big road bikes, without distinction. If you ride a bike, we don’t

Pretend Gearchange for Electrics

What puts you off electric motorcycles? If it’s the lack of gearchanging and involvement with rising and falling engine revs, then Toyota may have something for you. The company has been working on a simulated manual transmission for electric cars since early 2022 and there’s no reason why e-motorcycles won’t be able to use the same kit. Drivers get a ‘manual’ gear-lever and clutch, but the actual changes are simulated by onboard electronics. In late 2022 the company installed the system in a Lexus UX300e, and Takashi Watanabe, Chief Engineer of Lexus’ electric vehicle department at the time, described how it felt. “From the outside, this vehicle is as quiet as any other BEV. But the driver is able to experience

Yamaha Booster – New Class of Two-Wheeler?

Yamaha has unveiled the battery-powered Booster, which could be the basis of a new class of powered two-wheeler. It’s not an electric moped – it’s got pedals which you have to use to get power. Nor is it an electric bicycle – top speed is 30mph rather than the 15.5mph ‘pedelecs’ are restricted to. In fact, it’s not a fast e-bicycle (S-pedelec) either – these can reach nearly 30mph but are clearly developed from pedal bikes. Instead, Yamaha is hoping that the Booster will help pioneer a new class of PTW which blurs the lines between all of these camps, perhaps giving the best of all worlds. With the latticework alloy frame, pedals and saddle, it could not be mistaken for

‘Bentley’ Motorcycle Breaks Cover

Fancy riding a two-wheeled Bentley? Well now you can, except that it’s not really a Bentley at all but a Ducati Diavel. Based on the 168bhp Diavel V4, it’s been repainted in a Bentley-esque British Racing Green (though Ducati call it ‘Scarab Green’), tweaked bodywork to make it look slightly less aggressive and a revised silencer in two banks of two outlets. The idea is to suggest a resemblance between the V4 Duke and the £1.7 million Bentley Batur, the most powerful production car offered with the flying ‘B’ badge. Price? Well, at £58,000 the Bentleyised Diavel is quite a pricey accessory to sit next to the Batur in your garage. If that’s not exclusive or expensive enough Ducati is also offering

2023: FEMA’s review of the year

2023 in numbers Newsletter subscribers > 10,075 Facebook followers > 78,788 Instagram followers > 985 LinkedIn followers > 1,132 Twitter (X) followers > 1,632 Member organisations > 20 Posted manufacturers’ recalls > 36 If you don't want to miss any FEMA news, follow us on your favourite social media channel. We reached the end of 2023, time to have a quick look at the highlights of the past year. And what a year it was for FEMA! Defending riders' rights seems to be more important than ever, now that we see more and more policies that are not exactly motorcyclist friendly. Driving licence proposals seem to want to make it as unattractive as possible to get your A licence, road authorities keep implementing infrastructure measures that disregard our needs and

Success: different speed limits for motorcycles rejected

Proposals to establish different speed limits for cars and motorcycles ánd differentiated speed limits for holders of A1, A2 and A motorcycle licences were rejected during a vote in the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament. On Thursday 7 December 2023, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the Transport and Tourism Committee adopted their position on the revision of EU driving licence rules by 22 votes in favour, 21 against and two abstentions. MEPs say they “want to make sure the new rules contribute to road safety, in addition to the EU’s green and digital transitions”. Some of the proposed measures: Mandatory health checks on issuance and renewal of driving licence Minimum two year probationary period for novice

Vespa worth over Euro 1 billion

What’s in a name? Well if you’re Vespa, it’s worth over Euro 1 billion. And that’s not the value of factories, machinery and work in progress owned by the world’s best known scooter manufacturer, just the name. Piaggio commissioned branding experts Interbrand to take a long hard look at the Vespa name – one of the most recognisable in the world – and work out how much it was worth. “Interbrand employed proven, proprietary brand valuation techniques,” went a statement from Piaggio, “incorporating financial analysis with primary and quantitative data collected through a global market research, conducted across Vespa’s 10 key markets (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, USA, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China and India)...The study confirms that Vespa is globally perceived (as)

Motorcyclists present their road safety wish list

When it comes to reducing casualties among motorcyclists, it is essential to get the riders’ views on road safety. In the world of road safety it is quite common that people talk about motorcyclists, but it is not common that we are talked with. To change this, motorcycle experts presented members of the road safety community with feasible solutions for road safety issues. During the seminar ‘Reducing road deaths among motorcycle riders’, organised by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), motorcycle experts were given the opportunity to present their views to a large audience of over 240 members of the road safety community. The scale of the problem is serious: over 45,000 users of powered two-wheelers lost their lives on European roads in

Motorcycles banned at Whitby Railway Station – UPDATED

The BMF is alarmed to hear the news of a surprise ban on motorcycles that has been imposed at Whitby railway station in North Yorkshire by its owners Northern Rail. The station is the location of a well-known biker café, the Whistlestop that has been welcoming bikers to share its fabulous food and hospitality for many years. The café owners have expressed their shock and frustration at the news and fear the impact that this will have on their business. Bikers travel from far and wide to visit the café. Many have been quick to express their anger at the decision and the impact it will have on the biking community. There is a regular well attended bike night held

Happy Retirement Tony and Welcome Ian!

Happy Retirement! BMF’s Chief Instructor for the Blue Riband Advanced Rider Award, Tony Smykowski, has decided the time has come to hang up his ‘Chief Boots’ and step down from the role after his upcoming 74th Birthday on the 12th December 2023. In the last 6 years Tony has put many building blocks in place to improve the award from when he took it on in 2017, he has tirelessly worked to increase the instructors from only 2, all the way up to 34, which now means we have training available in all areas of the UK. Which then means in those 6 years 177 riders have successfully achieved the Blue Riband Advanced Rider Award. That is some achievement, all done voluntarily

Goodwood Goes Green for 2024

2024’s Goodwood Revival is ditching fossil fuels in favour what it terms sustainable fuel. The move is in line with the FIA’s current stipulation for racing, which is that all racing vehicles (cars or bikes) must use a fuel containing a minimum of 70% “advanced sustainable components.” At Goodwood, which runs 6th-9th September 2024, the fuels will be used in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy races, which see classic racers from Manx Nortons to MV triples competing, ridden by current and former world champions. The organisers say that no modifications are needed to use the fuels, and point out that a 1925 Bentley Speed Model used sustainable fuel to win the Rudge-Whitworth Cup in 2023. “Goodwood has an illustrious motorsport history and

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