Airless Tyre for Bikes? Other news 26 September 2023 An airless tyre, using memory alloys as the load bearing component, is the claim of the Los Angeles based SMART Tire Company. It’s been working with NASA to develop a tyre from the experience of an exploration vehicle used on the Moon. The result is the SMART (Shape Memory Alloy Radial Technology) which has a non-pneumatic tyre shape comprising a mesh or radial bands, mainly of the memory alloy NiTinol. Memory alloys are capable of “undergoing phase transitions at the molecular level with significant reversible strain (up to 10%) an order of magnitude more than ordinary materials.” In other words, it can deform significantly and will always spring back into shape – SMART claims the result is has the elastic qualities
BMF’s response to the Thirlmere West Road consultation – Cumbria BMF News 25 September 202323 October 2023 The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) Files Objections To The Proposed Permanent Closure of the U7003 along the Western Shore of Thirlmere The BMF has formally raised objections to the proposed introduction of a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) by Cumberland Council relating to the U7003 road along the western shore of Thirlmere. To read our full response to the consultation please click here The Thirlmere West road has been closed on a "temporary" basis for almost two years following Storm Arwen in November 2021, which resulted in fallen trees, rockfall and other debris falling on the highway. A consultation recently called by Cumberland Council has sought feedback on the Council’s proposal to close the route “permanently” whilst the latest survey of the road
Car versus motorcycle: new digital safety features tested FEMA News 25 September 2023 Digital connectivity between motorcycles, cars and infrastructure is entering a new phase. Recently FEMA joined a test day on the German Lausitzring track. On 14 and 15 September 2023 stakeholders from motorcycle- and car industry, road safety- and research institutions and users’ organisations got the opportunity to see with their own eyes and experience themselves how the new safety features that are developed by the Connected Motorcycle Consortium and its member’s work. FEMA was invited to participate in these demo days. The Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC) was founded in 2016 when BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha agreed upon the need to further enhance motorcycle/scooter safety by the means of C-ITS. Since then, a range of manufacturers, suppliers and research institutes joined forces
BMW stops all petrol bike sales in USA Other news 25 September 2023 In a dramatic move, BMW Motorrad has issued a temporary sales ban on all of its petrol-powered bikes in North America. This applies not only to new bikes, but also to used ones at dealers. Effectively, it leaves BMW as an electric-only brand in the USA and Canada for the time being, with only the CE 04 scooter on sale, though the smaller CE 02 is on the way. The problem is a component in the fuel vapour retention system that, “may not have been manufactured according to the material specifications.” BMW gives no more details than that, but it’s likely to be an emissions compliance issue for the North American markets. The company has emphasised that the sales stop is voluntary, temporary
Sunak’s Rethink on Net Zero Targets Welcomed, but Hiatus in Other Policy Areas Must End NMC News 20 September 20234 October 2023 National Motorcycling Council calls on the Government to adopt the NMC’s approach to motorcycle decarbonisation – plus deliver in other policy areas. News that Prime Minister Sunak is set to announce a revision of net-zero targets has been today welcomed by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC). The Council has from the start advocated an approach to decarbonisation which follows international product, technical and market developments in this area, rather than imposing arbitrary UK-only targets based around just one type of technology – battery electric. Government must take a genuinely technology neutral approach to decarbonisation and support wider choice than just battery electric motorcycles alone – including supporting the ongoing development of clean fuel technology for internal combustion engines. Security of fuel
20mph Limit on Welsh Roads Goes Live BMF News 17 September 20234 October 2023 A new 20mph default speed limit for all urban roads in Wales came into force on Sunday 17th September 2023. Councils can exempt individual roads if they choose to and keep the previous 30mph limit. The new law affects all residential roads with street lighting, most of which already had a 30-limit, and signage will be on the same pattern as previously, the 20 (or 30) limit denoted by circular signs with a red border. National speed limits on open roads remain 60mph for single-carriageways and 70mph for duals, unless signed otherwise. The Welsh Government (which was given the power to set a nationwide speed limit in 2018) made the 20mph proposal in 2021, the aim being to reduce the number of
European licence proposal: different speed limits for cars and motorcycles FEMA News 13 September 2023 If you thought the current driving licence directive was a monstrosity, wait until you read some of the proposals in the European Parliament rapporteur’s draft report on the proposal by the European Commission to revise the directive. Perhaps the most bizarre proposal: different speed limits for different vehicles… FEMA considers a proper and balanced driving licence directive as one of the most important instruments for road safety. It should also ensure that it facilitates our citizens in mobility needs. A good driving license system enables citizens of all ages in using their own transport modes to participate in the society, go to school or work and to visit relatives and friends where walking, cycling or public transport are not the best
ARC Announces Government Funding Other news 4 September 202326 September 2023 ARC, the Coventry-based builder of the Vector electric hyperbike, is getting UK Government funding to develop a new motor system, giving a glimpse of the technology its next generation of battery bikes will use. the new dual motor set up, with integrated inverter, will debut on new motorcycles due for launch in 2026. ARC says that the new system will offer more performance and lower weight than the existing system while also, crucially on a motorcycle, taking weight out of the battery. Named HiPERMOD, the new system is being developed in conjunction with Talos Techology, an electric drivetrain specialist which is based just down the road from ARC, in Warwick. The project is Government-funded through the Department for Business, Energy and
Fuel Prices August Leap Other news 2 September 202323 October 2023 Petrol prices leapt up in August, rising by 6.68p per litre, one of the largest monthly price increases in over 20 years. According to the RAC, only the effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and a one-off increase in October 2021, caused sharper price hikes. According to the RAC, the main cause of the latest increase was a decision by the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries deciding to lower production, which increased the price of a barrel of oil by nearly $12 to almost $87 – the average forecourt price for a litre of petrol rose to 152.25p in August. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said that the increase could have been even more. “While the increase is clearly
New Heated Visor Combats Misting Other news 1 September 202325 September 2023 Ever suffered from a misted-up visor? Of course, we all have in colder weather, though mitigated by the growing use of visor inserts such as the Pinlock. Now a British firm has gone one step further with a heated insert powered by an external rechargeable battery pack. There’s nothing new about heated visors, which up until now have used fine elements to provide the heat. The ‘VISIN’ has been designed by West Midlands-based Diamond Coatings, which supplies aerospace, medical, military and automotive sectors with specialist coating technology. In this case, the transparent insert coating can conduct electricity and thus heating across the entire area, working down to -20 degrees C, according to the manufacturer. It was developed by Jason Elite of Diamond
Phil Vincent’s Life captured on film Other news 30 August 202325 August 2023 Ewan McGregor is to narrate a new documentary on the life of Philip Vincent, the man behind the British V-twins of the 1940s and ‘50s which carried his name on the tank. Speed is Expensive: The Philip Vincent Story, will be available to stream from 25th September 2023 on Amazon, Sky Store, Apple TV and Google Play. The Stevange-built Vincent-HRDs were the superbikes of their day, the fastest production bikes then available and holders of multiple speed records. The most infamous was probably Rollie Free’s setting of a new American motorcycle land speed record on Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948 – infamous, because to minimise drag he rode the bike lying flat across the seat and tank, clad only in a
Underslung Mirrors on the Way Other news 29 August 202325 September 2023 Honda has patented mirrors mounted underneath the bars, rather than on top. The mirrors, which according to the patent application use a conventional stalk, would mount at the top of the forks just below the top triple clamp. It doesn’t sound like a ground-breaking innovation, but Honda claims several advantages for the underslung mirrors, which are serious enough to warrant the patent. First off is better visibility than conventionally-mounted mirrors – because the mirrors are below the rider’s elbows, the view is less obstructed. This in turn allows them to be mounted closer to the centre of the bike – conventional mirrors have to be high and wide so you can see past your shoulders. A narrower mounting, says Honda, means