Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Welcome to the Wakefield MAG Newsletter. If you can't attend our Tuesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.
CONTENTS
1) Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
2) Yorkshire Region AGM
3) MAG Annual General Conference
4) YPR Rally Tickets
5) South Yorkshire and Huddersfield MAG Market Top Box Sale and Bike Show
6) MAG Podcast
7) Motorcycle Parking Survey
8) Fight Motorcycle Theft
9) June Sales Stats
10) Forthcoming Events (for August and beyond)
1) Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
We now have a live band booked for our 21st Birthday Bash on Saturday 9th September (12:00 - 17:00) at the Thatched House - Top covers band, The Interiorz !!!
Alongside the band, other attractions at the event will be a ride-in bike show (prize giving at 16:00), Wakefield MAG stand with bike related tombola and prize raffle, the legendary Huddersfield MAG Top Box Sale (on tour) will be joining us so lots of opportunities to bag some bargain bike gear. Food will be available all afternoon, and of course, as it's held at a pub, beer too :-)
All very welcome so come along and celebrate Wakefield MAG's 21st birthday and MAG's 50th birthday nationally.
Hope to see you there.
The Yorkshire Region AGM will be held on Wednesday 6th September (19:30 - 21:00) at Squires Cafe, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, Leeds LS25 5LX.
The following Yorkshire Region Officer positions will be up for election:
We will also be awarding the Tony Berry Memorial Trophy to someone most deserving in the region - If you have anyone in mind that you would like to be considered for this most prestigious award, let me know !!!
3) MAG Annual General Conference
MAG's Annual General Conference (AGC) is being held at 12:00 midday on Saturday 23rd September at the Tone Vale Rally site in Devon (see below for directions).
The following roles are up for election at AGC 2023:
If you've never been to an AGC what can you expect?
This year, along with everyone else, we're tightening our belts, the pandemic hit our finances but AGC is for the members. The meeting and party is going old school, we'll be in a field with marquees.
Somerset ploughman's for lunch with free tea and coffee throughout the weekend.
You can arrive from midday on Friday 22nd September, there's a food van on site. Free camping, after the meeting, free party with live music, sorry the bar's not free but it's well stocked with local beers and ciders. If you don't like sleeping in a tent, campers are welcome and there are plenty of Premier Lodges, Ibis and Holiday Inns all within about 30min driving.
What's the catch? It's simple you just need to be a member so don't forget your membership card.
Directions:
The site is accessible from the layby just off the A38 opposite 'The Woodpile' in West Huntspill. Leaving the M5 at Junction 23 follow the A38 through Pawlett towards West Huntspill. As you drop down the hill go past the crematorium and take the next left into a layby. 'The Woodpile' is on your right just past the turning with the entrance to the layby just before the tyre garage.
The event is now SOLD OUT and no more tickets are available (from either the website or your local groups). If you have really left it too late this year and haven't got your ticket yet, sorry, you'll need to be more organised next year !!!
The weather forecast isn't brilliant for the YPR weekend, but a great time will still be had by the hardy rally goers, I'm sure :-)
5) South Yorkshire and Huddersfield MAG Market Top Box Sale and Bike Show
Wakefield MAG attended South Yorkshire MAG's Market Top Box Sale and Bike Show on Saturday 22nd of July. The weather wasn't brilliant which unfortunately kept a lot of bikes away so the bike show was quite modest - it would have been substantial had it been 'cracking t'flags'. However, there were lots of people in attendance and were treated to a couple of sets by Top MAG band The Interiorz (we were so impressed we booked them for our 21st Birthday Bash (See Above). The Top Box sale, run single handedly by Huddersfield MAG's Rep SallyAnn Slater raised an impressive £271. The unsold items are now in Wakefield MAG's custody awaiting our 21st Birthday Bash on 9th September (don't worry about the quantity of items left for sale, there's tons of stuff).
All in all, a great afternoon and a huge thanks to Stuart Hatfield and the South Yorkshire MAG members who made it a success, despite the rain.
Next on the calendar is our 21st Birthday Bash, which will be remarkably similar to SY's format, except we have ordered 10,000 acres of clear blue sky for 9th September in Wakefield ;-)
Check out the latest MAG Podcast, here
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has launched a survey to gather opinion on motorcycle parking charges. Many local authorities are looking to introduce charging for motorcycle parking bays despite the provision being sub-standard. MAG is searching for the best possible outcome for riders.
Free motorcycle parking has traditionally been the norm in the UK. Recently there have been increasing numbers of local authorities making moves to introduce motorcycle parking charges. These plans often propose entirely disproportionate and unreasonable charges and meet great resistance from riders.
MAG argues that increasing attempts to disincentivise car use in congested city centres is being applied illogically to motorcycle parking. Motorcycles help reduce congestion and emissions and should be encouraged. The fact remains, however, that motorcycle parking options are sub-standard and rarely provide for the security needs of the transport mode. Motorcycle theft is disproportionately impacting motorcyclists, and MAG is finding evidence that this is also having a significant impact on road safety statistics.
If motorcycle parking charges are going to be enforced, then MAG contend that revenue must be invested into bringing the parking bays up to an acceptable standard.
MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: "We are exploring attitudes of the riding public in this thorny area. It seems that councils are hell-bent on pushing motorcycle parking charges, which is illogical, but in the face of this stupidity we may be able to find a sensible balance that delivers a better outcome for all, including motorcyclists. We cannot and will not stand back and allow motorcyclists to become simply another revenue source for Councils, but proportionate charges that are re-invested into the infrastructure may be more palatable. We need to gather views and opinions of the riders who will be impacted as a first step to a sensible outcome. Councils seem unable or unwilling to do this, so we will do it for them."
The short survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete and there is room for comments and thoughts to be added.
Please complete the survey, which can be accessed here.
MAG is continuing its successful series of Fight Motorcycle Theft meetings. Having confirmed attendance by Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, MAG announces the next in the series of meetings will be held on Thursday 21st September.
The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) area consistently sees one of the worst performances for motorcycle theft in the UK. In 2022 Police National Computer (PNC) data showed 1180 motorcycle thefts. This is known to be below the actual reported motorcycle theft figures, and demonstrates a 10% increase compared to the previous year. The GMP area recorded the fourth highest number of motorcycle thefts of all police force areas.
The Fight Motorcycle Theft meeting will follow the same format as previous meetings covering Kent, West Midlands and Hertfordshire police. The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, along with a senior officer from GMP, will speak at the meeting alongside MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown. The bulk of the meeting will be devoted to a question and answers session allowing riders to ask questions and raise concerns directly with GMP and the Deputy Mayor.
Colin Brown said: "I am happy that Kate Green has agreed to attend the meeting and allow this direct engagement event to take place. It is important that riders are given the opportunity to air their grievances in a polite and respectful manner, and past experience shows that these meetings can lead to tangible outcomes. We are under no illusions that the problem can be solved in one meeting, but hopefully we can help to raise the profile and focus on tackling the shocking and disproportionate impact of vehicle theft suffered by the riding community in the GMP area."
The meeting takes place on Thursday 21st September. Proceedings start at 6pm at the Firbank Pub and Kitchen, Firbank Road, Newall Green, Manchester, M23 2YP
Leeds Update: As you are hopefully aware, we had originally scheduled the Leeds meeting for Saturday 24th June at the John Charles Centre but we couldn't get the availability of key stakeholders on that particular date (local MP's, Mayor, Police and Crime Commissioner and/or Deputy etc). Rather than see it crash and burn it was better to postpone and reschedule when we can get the availability of the key stakeholders. This original date was suggested by Leeds Council based on availability of the meeting room at the venue. We are still trying to get the availability of Tracy Brabin, who, as the Mayor of West Yorkshire, is also responsible for functions previously exercised by the Police and Crime Commissioner including setting out a police and crime plan and determining police and crime objectives. A key stakeholder indeed. However, MAG's requests for her availability to attend the Fight Motorcycle Theft meeting are falling on deaf ears, which unfortunately sends out a clear message that she does not consider this a priority. Feel free to contact our Mayor and ask why she is seemingly unwilling to attend a West Yorkshire Motorcycle Theft Meeting with very concerned constituents who do regard this as a major crime issue impacting bikers in West Yorkshire.
mayoral.enquiries@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
The June sales statistics have just been published by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and which make interesting reading.
Total sales (Mopeds, Motorcycles, Scooters and Trikes) in June 2023 were 13,518, whilst in June 2022 they were 12,523, which is an increase of 7.9%. However, figures for YTD show a slight decrease against last year: 62,277 sales in 2023 compared to 63,963 in 2022, a 2.6% decrease.
What is most interesting is the stats breakdown for the powertrain of bikes sold. ICE powered new bike sales were 13,066 in June 2023, compared to 11,989 in June 2022, a 9.0% increase. Electric powered new bike sales were 452 in June 2023 compared to 534 in June 2024, a decrease of 15.4%. The YTD shows a static picture for ICE powered new bikes sales with 60,353 sold in 2023 compared to 60,373 sold in 2022, statistically 0.0%. YTD for electric powered bikes shows a massive decrease with 1,924 sold in 2023, compared to 3,590 sold in 2022, a decrease of 46.4%.
It really does look like British bikers are not buying into the electric bike utopia. This is hardly surprising given the price differentiation between the two powertrains - A mid-size 600cc ICE bike starts at around £6,500 whereas a Zero SR/S (fully faired 600cc 'equivalent' electric bike) is nearly £24,000 and the electric bike is far less flexible than it's cheaper ICE equivalent. Long live ICE, even if petrol has to be replaced by carbon neutral e-fuels at some point in the future.
Good to see Triumph doing so well in the manufacturers table of the June 2023 Best Sellers:
Read the MCIA June 2023 Press Statistics here.
10) Forthcoming Events (for August and beyond)
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)
Wednesday 6th September - Yorkshire Region Annual General Meeting
See Above. Squires Cafe Bar, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, Leeds LS25 5LX at 19:00. Current MAG membership card required to vote. www.squires-cafe.co.uk
Saturday 9th September - Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
See Above
Saturday 23rd September - MAG Annual General Conference
See Above
TBC - Fight Motorcycle Theft 2023 LEEDS
That's all for this month, hope to see you all soon.
Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734
Wakefield MAG meet at the Thatched House, Stanley, Wakefield at 8:00pm every Tuesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.