Green lane motorcycling is under threat – take action NOW!

" I urge all riders to support the continuing access to green roads, by responding to the consultation, as outlined in the ACU's excellent advice below. If we lose this access it will be very difficult to overturn. The time to respond is NOW!" Jim Freeman, BMF chair.  Advice on responding to DEFRA’s Consultation on the Landscapes Review What is the Landscapes Review? In May 2018 the government asked for an independent review into whether the protections for National Parks and AONBs are still fit for purpose. In particular, what might be done better, what changes will help and whether the definitions and systems in place are still valid. The review’s final report was published on 21 September 2019. It was led by

Motorcycle Industry Boycotts Russia

Russian Boycott Expands Following the BMF news story on a boycott of Russian motorcycle exports on 11th March, comes news that more manufacturers are lining up to repudiate business with the country, in response to its invasion of Ukraine on 24th February. Meanwhile the EU has announced a blanket ban on all motorcycle exports over EUR 5000 to Russia. The BMF reported that Harley-Davidson was the first manufacturer to pull out of Russia, swiftly followed by Polaris, owner of the Indian brand, and Honda, which has suspended shipments of cars as well as bikes. MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov, who is himself Russian, weighed in, publicly criticising the Russian invasion in an open letter distributed via MV. “My family is shocked, all the

Triumph to make many more bikes in the UK

Triumph is to make many more bikes in the UK this year, only two years after moving much of its production to Thailand. Booming demand across Europe and successful launches of the marque in new markets such as China are said to be behind the decision. Production had been progressively been moving to the company's three South East Asian plant since they were set up in 2002-2007 and 2020 saw Speed Triple and Tiger 1200 – the final mainstream models built at Hinckley – move there too, spelling the end of mainstream assembly in Britain. The Hinckley plant has since focused on R&D and limited production bikes, building around 4,500 machines a year. Soaring demand for new Triumphs, particularly the Trident 660

BMF welcomes the Vintage Motor Cycle Club to the NMC

The National Motorcyclists Council welcomes the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) to the NMC’s growing partnership of motorcyclists and trade representative organisations. Backed by 13,500 members, the VMCC is the world’s largest Vintage & Classic motorcycle Clubs, with 81 regional sections and five specialist sections around the UK, organising over 1,200 events per year. With significant technical and regulatory expertise, the VMCC is at the forefront of the heritage motorcycle sector, drawing its membership from a wide range of riders of classic and heritage machines, ranging from the earliest days of motorcycling through to machines from more recent times. Classic motorcycling is an important part of the UK’s £18 billion historic sector, with nearly 675,000 motorcycles being part of this –

The BMF at Parliament!

The BMF lobbying team joined fellow members of the National Motorcyclists Council, in the Churchill Room reception, hosted by Sir Bill Wiggins MP. The event was a fantastic opportunity for the team to meet officials and MPs, in an informal session, over tea and sandwiches. The expected attendance was reduced under the impact of a Tube Strike, but the key people, including Minister Harrison were there. The BMF team were down one, Sheonagh Ravensdale, Communications director, having to pull out at the last moment, after testing positive for covid. However, Anna Zee, Political and Technical services director was ably supported by Emily Rochester, Government Relations Executive intern, in engaging with MPs, including Steve Baker and Minister Harrison. The Ministerial address demonstrated that

NMC presents its policy programme

Motorcycling and the Future of Transport Policy Presented to Transport Minister Trudy Harrison MP At a major event of the Parliamentary Motorcycle Group yesterday, the National Motorcyclists Council presented its programme for policies to support motorcycling in UK transport policy to MPs and the Government. Under Secretary of State for Transport, Trudy Harrison MP delivered a speech to welcome the NMC’s Motorcycling and the Future of Transport Policy. The chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Motorcycling, Sir Bill Wiggin MP, also spoke in support of the comprehensive approach set out by the NMC. At the well-attended reception, British Super Bikes and TT legend Steve Plater added a new dimension to a parliamentary event by delivering a well-received speech about UK

Bault – the ultimate bike security?

Concerned about your bike's security? We all know that disc locks, ground anchors and chains can be cut through, given a battery-powered angle grinder and the bike's owner away at work or on holiday. Even inside a locked garage, it may not be safe. Bault (it stands for Bike Vault) reckons it has the answer – hide your bike underground. It all sounds a bit James Bond, but the Bault a serious business offer by a British start-up, which will start selling the unit from April 2022. The Bault is an hydraulic lift enclosed in a steel and concrete box, built under the floor of your garage. Installing it takes three days, starting with a mini-excavator digging a 5.4 cubic metre hole,

Piaggio develops on-bike radar

On-bike radar is developing fast as a means of keeping riders safe from cars with driver-assist features, and the next generation of self-driving cars. BMW, Triumph, Ducati, KTM and Kawasaki already offer a simple form of on-bike radar, but Piaggio has just unveiled a more powerful '4G' system. The Law Commission – whose job is to check our laws are up to date and make recommendations for change – recently proposed an Automated Vehicle Act, which make the manufacturer, rather than the 'driver,' of a self-driving car accountable for accidents. There is evidence that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have more difficulty detecting small vehicles such as motorcycles (or for that matter, cyclists or pedestrians) than bigger ones. The technology is

Mental Health first aid support for all motorcyclists

The BMF has lent its full support to Mental Health Motorbike, a newly registered charity which aims to offer mental health first aid to motorcyclists. “This initiative is brilliant, particularly after two years of the pandemic, which has stressed the mental health of so many, particularly those who live on their own. As suicide is a primary cause of death amongst young men, in particular, this couldn’t be more timely. I wish Paul every success and the BMF will do whatever it can to support MHM,” said BMF Chair Jim Freeman. “The idea came out of a difficult situation,” says founder Paul Oxborough. “We lost a friend to suicide and decided we had to do something about it. Having been a motorcyclist

The Future of Transport Policy – the NMC Sets Out the Next Steps for Motorcycling

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today launched a major new contribution to the discussion about motorcycling’s developing role in society and transport. The new policy paper ‘Motorcycling and the Future of Transport Policy’ sets out in a concise format the policies that will work to the nation’s benefit if adopted by the Government. Policy areas addressed include mobility, the environment, safety and accessibility. The vital contribution that motorcycling makes to the UK’s culture, leisure, economy, heritage and sport is also recognised. This new paper builds upon the NMC’s core policies, as developed by its membership and first presented when the NMC was launched. Since then, the NMC has worked with a range of stakeholders to refine its position in key policy

Historic Motorcycles travelling in EU, MoT certificate challenge?

The BMF is urgently following up allegations that historic motorcycles over 40 years old – exempt from an MOT in the UK – may still need to carry an MOT certificate when travelling in the EU. The question came up when a Triumph Owners Club member was stopped in this week Spain on his 1970 T100SS for a document check. He was asked for an MOT or equivalent certificate and told that his machine could be impounded if he couldn't produce one. Anna Zee, BMF Political and Technical Services Director, commented, “According to gov.uk you need the registration certificate and insurance, and I've never taken any more than that, but I will follow this up.” Dolf Willigers, General Secretary of FEMA (Federation of

Barcelona study shows interesting results EC v ICE

Electric scooters have a whole-life emissions output one-fifth of the equivalent 125cc machine. That's the verdict of a new study conducted by the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering, comparing the lifecycle emissions of a Suzuki Burgman 125 and a Torrot Muvi electric scooter, based on typical commuting use in the Spanish city. Electric two-wheelers have zero emissions at the tailpipe but there have been question marks over their lifecycle emissions, which take into account manufacturing and disposal, especially of the battery. This cradle-to-grave approach has been studied for cars many times, but seldom for two-wheelers. The Burgman and its electric equivalent were found to have very similar global warming equivalent emissions for their disposal and recycling, but the Torrot had lower emissions on

Top