Insurance premiums continue to rise… BMF News 25 April 202425 April 2024 Motorcyclists feel the pinch as insurance premiums continue to rise A rise in insurance premiums across the motor industry, which has seen the overall cost of motor insurance increase by 43% over the past 12 months, is posing a real challenge for motorcyclists and car drivers alike as insurers hike their prices higher in the face of rising repair costs, higher wage bills and the continuing high level of motor thefts, in part driven by the ongoing cost of living crisis with a clear link between the cost of living crisis and a corresponding increase in crime rates. Motorcycles thefts across the UK remain disproportionately high. 2023 saw 23,963 total bike thefts which was only slightly down on 2022 figures. The
New partnership with Fletchers Solicitors BMF News 17 April 2024 Fletchers Solicitors provide BMF members with dedicated legal line. We have entered into a partnership with Fletchers Solicitors and the firm will now be providing a legal line available to all of BMF members. Fletchers is a Top 100 law firm who are recognised as leaders in the field by the independent legal directories such as Legal 500 & Chambers and Partners. BMF members receive special rates from the firm. Having a specialist team on your side if you have had an accident can make all the difference. Fletchers Solicitors has a strong heritage of working with motorcyclists, motorcycle groups and organisations, and the new legal line will ensure more motorcyclists have access to the assistance they need when they need it most. If
BMF supports the AA’s “Think Bikes” Campaign BMF News 8 April 20248 April 2024 On the 10th anniversary of the original campaign, the AA's message remains as relevant as ever with 350 motorcyclists and 91 cyclists alone killed on UK roads in 2022. It is important that we continue to increase motorists' awareness of those on 2 wheels to reduce the continuing high number of collisions and fatalities caused by a failure to see them on time. Government road traffic statistics show that cycles and motorcycles make up just 2.75% of miles travelled compared to cars but account for more than one quarter of road deaths. This is completely unacceptable and highlights the importance for all drivers to look out for vulnerable road users and to always think bikes when out on the road. 10th
Cadwell Top Trackday Venue, but Overall Bookings Down Other news 31 March 20242 April 2024 Cadwell Park is the favourite venue for track day riders, according to a survey by Trackdays.co.uk. It’s the second year running Cadwell has topped the track list, accounting for one in five track day bookings in the last 12 months. It was closely followed by Snetterton (17% of bookings), Donington Park (14%) and Brands Hatch (13%). Silverstone, Lydden Hill and Croft were less popular, scoring 2% apiece. The survey analysed 1600 bookings from a number of leading trackday suppliers across the UK. So, good news for Cadwell, but the survey also found that track days in general are being hit by the cost of living, with spending down by a third as riders prioritise their spending. Dan Jones, operations manager of
Welsh Byway Plans Raise Hackles Other news 30 March 20242 April 2024 Powys Council has raised a storm with plans to resurface a section of track over the Cambrian Mountains which would benefit trail riders and mountain bikers. Monks Trod is a BOAT (Byway Open to All Traffic), which makes it legal for motorised vehicles, unless the local authority puts a restriction in place. Because some of the five-mile byway is over boggy, easily damaged ground, the Council closed it to four-wheeled vehicles in 1990 via a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order), which was extended to bikes in 2002 – in 2021, it was reopened to two-wheelers only. Now Powys Council plans to resurface a section of Monks Trod, raising a storm of protest from Powys Local Access Forum, amongst others, which maintains that
Norton Victims to get Compensation Other news 28 March 20242 April 2024 After more than ten years, Norton investors who thought they had lost their life savings will be compensated – £9.4 million will be paid out by the Fraud Compensation Scheme. It’s been a long wait for more than 200 people who in 2012 and 2013 transferred money from their existing retirement plans into three Norton pension schemes set up by Stuart Garner – Dominator 2012, Commando 2012 and Donington MC – of which he was the sole trustee. Unfortunately, the funds vanished, being invested directly into Norton itself when the company’s well publicised revival hit financial problems. Despite receiving information about the missing money during 2013, it wasn’t until 2017 that the Pensions Regulator began to investigate. Norton went bust in
New Ducati Option Aids Wheelies Other news 24 March 20242 April 2024 Ducati has announced a wheelie-assist option on the Hypermotard 698 Mono which uses existing electronics to keep that front wheel in the air, rather than on the tarmac. Wheelie control systems aren’t new and the current generation make use of a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) which measures a bike’s roll, pitch and yaw, plus sensors for engine speed, wheel speeds and several other factors to detect when a wheelie is about to start, and limiting torque momentarily to keep the front wheel on the ground. The standard Hypermoto has four levels of wheelie control, with level 1 allowing the front wheel up before intervening and level 4 keeping it on tarmac at all times. Now there’s a new option which
Glow in the Dark Road Markings On the Way? Other news 21 March 20243 April 2024 We’ve all been there, even on modern bikes with relatively good lights – a dark, wet road at night with oncoming headlights can be a nightmare of poor vision. But now an Australian engineering firm reckons it may have the answer – glow in the dark white lines. Tarmac Linemarking of Victoria has developed photoluminescent paint which absorbs UV light during the day, enabling it to emit light after dark. There’s nothing new about the idea, which has been used for watch hands and children's’ toys for years, but this is thought to be the first time it has been applied to road markings. Special phosphors in the paint absorb invisible UV light during the day, which cause it to glow,
The NMC Reinforces Calls for a Fundamental Review of the Motorcycle Licensing Regime BMF News NMC News 20 March 202420 March 2024 BMF SAYS... The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today issued a second edition of its 2022 position on motorcycle licensing, testing and training which sets out updated proposals for a change to the current regime. The BMF has been a key contributor to the document, working closely with our partner NMC to set out the need for a regime that is easier to understand and access, with reduced cost, bureaucracy and repetition, whilst maintaining high training standards. In particular, the document calls for government to undertake a fundamental review of the current regime to create a training and testing regime that is fit for the 21st century; a regime which allows riders to progress more efficiently through relevant motorcycle licensing stages to
Motorcycle Advert BMF News 20 March 202422 March 2024 The BMF has called out the recent JD Sports advert depicting the inappropriate riding of motorcycles by young riders wearing casual shoes whilst performing stunts and wheelies against an urban backdrop. The advert is completely irresponsible and encourages behaviour that could result in serious injury, not only to riders but to other road users. Effective safety gear for motorcyclists, that provides adequate protection from impact and abrasion, is vital and can make the difference between riders suffering minor injuries or much more serious ones when involved in accidents. Casual shoes and trainers will always be entirely inappropriate for riding motorcycles as they are likely to shred or slip off in the event of an accident causing significant injury to the rider. You can read
Hackney Bike Parking Charges BMF News 19 March 2024 Hackney Council To Go Ahead with The Introduction of New Motorcycle Parking Charges Despite Strong Opposition From The UK Motorcycling Lobby Despite sustained objections from the BMF, other motorcycling organisations, and thousands of individual riders against the proposal by Hackney Council to introduce new motorcycle charges within Hackney, we have been advised by the Council that they have decided to "overrule all objections received" and introduce new parking charges and restrictions regardless. Hackney Council plan to charge motorcycle parking rates 10-20 times higher than anywhere else in the UK, anticipating that this will reduce motorcycle parking in the Borough by 70%. The Council claims its priority is to "reclaim the kerbside space" used by motorcycles, despite only 0.2% of parking space in
Government Consults on Default Access to Bus Lanes by Motorcycles NMC News 18 March 2024 Consultation issued after work by NMC and its member organisations to bring clarity to the current patchwork of access The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has strongly welcomed a new consultation by the Department for Transport (DfT) which seeks views on making motorcycle access to bus lanes a default position in regulations in England. In his introduction to the consultation, Transport Minister Guy Opperman MP said “Motorcycles are an important but sometimes overlooked mode of transport, not just by drivers who fail to spot bikers, but occasionally by government too. Their size and nature make them a dynamic and affordable option for road users, and with that it’s only right that our roads become as dynamic as those using them.” Mr Opperman’s remarks