The motorcycle/scooter courier is back, and it’s official, with the number of express deliveries (of all types, not just two-wheelers) more than doubling since 2019. Until recently the golden age of the courier seemed to be long gone – in the 1970s and ‘80s, with countless papers and documents needing urgent same-day delivery in those pre-internet times, a bike was often the fastest way to do it. But now, thanks to Covid and the explosion of internet shopping, the demand for ‘last mile’ deliveries has gone through the roof. Dr Tracey Worth, Chief Executive of the Institute of Couriers, called on the motorcycle industry to take advantage of what she called “low hanging fruit.” In a speech to the Motorcycle Industry

Have you ever dropped a bike at low speed? Yep, most of us have known the dreaded wobble while attempting a U-turn, just before the bike tips you onto the tarmac – it’s usually more embarrassing than dangerous, but can still ruin your day. Now technology company Intellias has launched a system that could make low speed drops a thing of the past. Publicly launched at the recent CES Show in Las Vegas, a global showcase for all kinds of new tech, the Intellias system uses sensors around the bike to detect speed and lean angle. When these calculate that the machine is going off balance, it makes a counter movement at the handlebars to prevent it. In keeping with its

Ural sidecar outfits, including the legendary two-wheel drive version, are back on sale in the UK with a new importer – but they are no longer made in Russia. Production was moved last summer from Ural’s factory in Irbit, central Russia to a site in Petropavlovsk, northern Kazakhstan, 370 miles south east of the original factory, where Urals had been made since 1941. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and the international sanctions which it brought down on Russia, made continued production at Irbit impossible. The company itself wasn’t subject to sanctions, but the venerable flat-twin has been radically updated in recent years, with 80% of its components now sourced from outside Russia, including Brembo brakes, Nippon Denso electrics and Paioli forks. Ilya Khait,

Egyptian rider Ali Abdo has set a new world record for the longest journey by electric motorcycle. He rode 12,749km (7921.86 miles) across Egypt in what he billed as his ‘Ride to COP 27’, hoping the feat would raise awareness about climate change, especially amongst the young. It took him 30 days (10th October to 9th November), averaging 264 miles a day. And the bike? A standard spec Energica EVA EsseEsse9, which has an 18.9kwh battery and an official range of 143 miles. Abdo has previously broken electric records on an EsseEsse9, setting the longest distance ridden in 24 hours (571.58 miles) and last year broke the record for the longest journey on an electric motorcycle in a single country –

We know the Government is keen for us to transition from petrol-powered motorcycles and scooters to electrics, but how far are they prepared to go? The government of Uganda has shown the way, by offering all Ugandan riders a free electric bike if they’re prepared to trade-in their petrol machine! Uganda, like many African countries, relies on fleets of 125cc geared motorcycles as cheap local taxis. Governments are keen to electrify these ‘boda bodas’ or ‘okadas’, and back in October we reported how okadas are being banned in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, though on safety grounds. President Msueveni’s policy is more generous – in his year-end national address he announced that the government will provide a new electric motorcycle as a

Royal Enfield is investing 50 million euros in Spanish manufacturer Stark, which builds an electric MX bike, as a quicker route to developing its own battery-powered machines. We reported in October last year that Indian giant Hero is investing in Zero as a quick buy-in to electric bike technology – now it seems that Eicher Motors (EML) – Royal Enfield’s parent company – is also looking west for electrics. Stark Future currently makes the Varg, an electric motocross bike which claims more power than a typical 450cc MX machine. Now Royal Enfield’s parent will gain a 10% stake in the Spanish company and pave the way for a partnership that will include, “collaborative research and development in electric motorcycles, technology sharing,

Sammy Miller’s museum has just completed the restoration of an 1898 Quadrant – at 125 years old it’s one of the oldest surviving British motorcycles there is. It features a French-made Le Brutus engine with period automatic inlet valve, offering 1.5hp. Unusually, it has a two-speed transmission with shaft final drive at a time when most bikes stuck with a relatively crude single-speed belt-drive set up. Starting is via bicycle-type pedals and as with any veteran machine, the rider has to cope with several controls to keep the engine happy, including mixture and ignition timing adjustments. The Quadrant is the oldest bike on display at Sammy Miller’s New Forest-based museum, which is well worth a visit. Another recent restoration – much