Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-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) Ride to Work Day 2023
2) Rally Tickets
3) MAG Annual General Conference
4) Yorkshire Region Meeting
5) Fight Motorcycle Theft 2023
6) MAG Podcasts
7) Scooter For Sale
8) Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
9) Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, And Yamaha Join Forces On Hydrogen Bikes
10) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)
Ride To Work Day 2023, which will take place on Monday 19th June, celebrates the many benefits gained from riding a motorcycle, scooter or moped to work. The international campaign increases awareness and acceptance of an often-overlooked transport choice.
For Ride To Work Day 2023, the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is investigating workplace parking facilities. A survey launched recently asks riders for details covering the availability, quality and security of workplace motorcycle parking.
In order to increase the popularity of this congestion-busting commuter option, MAG is asking employers to bring their motorcycle parking provision up to scratch. Firstly, MAG will answer the question: how well are employers doing? MAG is then asking all riders to give a copy of a new motorcycle parking guide to their company.
New this year, the Ride To Work Day resource pack includes an employers' guide to motorcycle parking. This simple booklet gives employers tips and advice to help them facilitate this sustainable commuting option.
MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: "One thing cannot be denied; if you ride to work you are going to need somewhere to park your bike. Motorcycle parking is often just an afterthought, if not entirely ignored. Car, and increasingly cycle, parking is a given at most workplaces. But the motorcyclist is often left to make the best of a bad job. We are running this survey to get a feel for how well the motorcycle commute is being supported by employers. We have also developed a simple guide with advice for employers and hope to see the standards improve by Ride To Work Day 2024."
Put the Action in: If your workplace has its own parking facilities, please complete the short survey here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LSPT8HQ. You don't necessarily need to be a regular motorcycle commuter to answer the questions. Once you have completed the survey, why not give your boss a copy of our handy guide?
MAG will collate the survey responses and publish the results on Ride To Work Day 2023.
We still have for sale at our weekly meetings, tickets (which are actually barcoded wristbands) for Farmyard Party and Yorkshire Pudding Rally.
Ticket prices and dates are:
YPR sells out every year, usually 2-3 weeks after the FYP, so you only have this month to get your tickets for this mighty fine rally to avoid dissappointment !!!. YPR is pre-book only so you can't buy tickets on the gate.
Remember, if you buy your tickets directly from us, you save on the on-line booking fee (which are per ticket not per transaction !!!) and postage .... more money in your pocket = more beer money .... what more of an incentive could you possibly want !!!
See the Yorkshire MAG Events site for more details of these fantastic rallies: www.mapevents.co.uk
3) MAG Annual General Conference
MAG's 2023 AGC will be held on Saturday 23rd September at the Tone Vale Rally site in Devon (Nearest postcode TA9 3RH). In accordance with MAG's Constitution, MAG invites motions and nominations to be received no later than June 30th, 2023.
The following roles are up for election at AGC 2023:
The Board is currently without a Director of Finance.
Both motions and nominations may be sent by post to MAG, Unit C13, Holly Farm Business Park, Honiley, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1NP or via email at mag-hq@mag-uk.org.
From the Constitution:
6.g. All matters to be included within the agenda of the Group Conference should be sent in writing and received at the Central Office of the Company not later than midnight on the last day of June in the year of the General Conference. Submissions can be sent by email to nominations@mag-uk.org or by post to the registered office address. Submissions received by post on the first working day following 30th of June shall be accepted. All proposals should include the name, address and membership number of the person proposing the matter and the person seconding it.
6.i. All nominations for the directors or other officers of the Company must be seconded and must be submitted after 1st June in each year. Submissions can be sent by email to nominations@mag-uk.org or by post to the registered office address. Submissions received by post on the first working day following 30th of June shall be accepted. All proposals should include the name, address and membership number of the person proposing the matter and the person seconding it. Each nominee must have been a member for at least 12 months prior to the nomination and must include a manifesto of not more than 1200 words with their nomination.
Awards
MAG invites nominees for the following awards:
Nominations for awards may be made directly to your Regional Rep (stravis@mag-uk.org), or to the Chair via email chair@mag-uk.org or by post to Central Office (The Motorcycle Action Group, Central Office, Unit C13, Holly Farm Business Park, Honiley, Warwickshire, CV8 1NP). The NC will consider all nominees for awards at it's July meeting on Saturday 8th July.
Note: Anyone who is interested in becoming a Director of MAG Media or NEL can submit a manifesto to the Board at any point during the year. All Directors roles are on a voluntary unpaid basis.
The next Yorkshire Region meeting will be held on Wednesday 28th June 19:30 - 21:00 at Squires Cafe Bar, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, South Milford, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS25 5LX. All Yorkshire Region MAG members are invited to the meeting where you can witness MAG democracy in action and have a say in how your region is run.
AGENDA
5) Fight Motorcycle Theft 2023
Motorcycle theft is a major issue in our region. West Yorkshire consistently shows the worst levels of motorcycle theft outside of London. Nationally motorcyclists are victims of approximately 25% of all vehicle theft, despite representing only 3% of the potential vehicle theft targets. Several Yorkshire MAG members have had their bikes stolen recently. This is often perpetrated by armed gangs with links to organised crime. The stolen bikes are either used to commit other crimes or moved out of the area and likely stripped for parts. The thieves are quite blatant and have been seen using angle grinders in broad daylight to cut through chains and locks. They often carry knives and/or other weapons to deter anyone who challenges them. There are also reported instances of bike jackings at junctions and traffic lights, again when the rider is threatened with weapons. Riders have been followed by other bikes and or scooters with a view to stealing the bike.
Enough is enough !!!
The Motorcycle Action Group would like to invite you to attend a public meeting we are organising (in partnership with Leeds City Council) to address the issue of motorcycle theft in the West Yorkshire Police area. The date and location of the meeting will be announced shortly (we had originally scheduled the meeting for Saturday 24th June at the John Charles Centre in Leeds 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. The date was suggested by Leeds Council based on availability of the meeting room at the venue).
The meeting format is similar to a hustings, where the stakeholders who can impact on the issue are given a brief opportunity to explain what action they are taking or planning to tackle the issue, but the majority of the time given over to a Q&A session with members of the public. This is your chance to question our speakers (which includes Senior Police Officers responsible for Vehicle Theft) and put forward your ideas to fight bike theft.
The Leeds meeting is part of a number of Fight Motorcycle Theft roadshows being held throughout 2023. Three have already been held (Kent, Birmingham & London), the next will be Leeds with Hull, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh to follow. The previous meetings have seen very tangible outcomes, and the hope is that the Leeds meeting will be equally effective.
We need a big turnout to make these events a success. Bums on seats really do make a difference. Hope to see you there !!!
If you have questions and points you would like to raise but can't attend the event in person, please email these in advance to stravis@mag-uk.org and we will raise these on your behalf at the meeting.
The MAG podcast had landed and ready to stream now!
The podcasts are being produced on a monthly basis and feature MAG's Colin Brown, Director of Campaigns and Political Engagement, recapping and discussing the most recent news and events with a variety of guests.
You can find the Podcasts on the MAG Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@MotorcycleActionGroupMAG.
Please like and subscribe.
2019 Kawasaki J300 Special Edition (ABS), Black with Green Stripes. Higher Touring Screen fitted (standard screen included), Top Box. Only 4,286 miles. Sale also includes lock and chain and cover. Will be sold with 12 months MoT. Recent tyres. £3,000.
Contact Chas on 07850 485311.
8) Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
2023 is quite significant for Wakefield MAG for we are 21 years old !!!; Significant also for MAG nationally as MAG is 50 years old this year !!!
To help celebrate this monumental anniversary, we are hosting a Saturday Bike Day on Saturday 9th September (12:00 - 17:00) at the Thatched House, with a bike display / show in the car park, Steve the Landlord will be laying on a BBQ, we'll have our Wakefield MAG stand and the legendary Huddersfield MAG Top Box Sale (on tour) will be joining us so lots of opportunities to bag some bargain bike gear. We'll also have a tombola and prize raffle. We are also hoping to feature live music but if we fail in that endevour, we'll have recorded music playing.
Hopefully you'll be able to join us in September, to help celebrate MAG's 50th and Wakefield MAG's 21st birthdays.
9) Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, And Yamaha Join Forces On Hydrogen Bikes
On 17th May 2023, Japan's Big Four motorcycle manufacturers announced a bold new plan to cooperatively develop hydrogen-powered motorcycle engines. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha executives all gathered at a Tokyo press conference to announce the formation of HySE, which stands for 'Hydrogen Small Mobility and Engine Technology'.
In addition to the four biggest Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, both Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited and Toyota Motor Corporation will also join HySE as special members. Having both of those companies on board is important, since both KHI and Toyota have independently advanced their own hydrogen-powered research in their respective fields. While HySE will concern itself with motorcycle engines, it also plans to develop other hydrogen-powered engines for small mobility needs, as well.
The companies jointly announced a plan to pursue three main research and development areas, with responsibilities for each divided among the four OEMs as follows:
According to the current plans that HySE has laid out, Honda will lead the effort to research model-based development of hydrogen-powered engines. Suzuki will conduct an element study on functionality, performance, and reliability of hydrogen-powered engines. Meanwhile, Yamaha and Kawasaki Motors will both conduct hands-on research using real hydrogen-powered engines to assess their functionality, performance, and reliability in the real world. Additionally, Yamaha will study requirements necessary to develop a hydrogen refueling system, as well as hydrogen tanks for small mobility, for motorcycles and other vehicles. Finally, Kawasaki Motors will expend some effort in studying auxiliary equipment required for the fuel supply systems and tanks needed for hydrogen distribution, as well as what equipment should be installed in between the fuel tanks and injectors on hydrogen-powered vehicles.
These are daunting and important undertakings, to be sure, which is why it is good that the four companies (plus KHI and Toyota Motors) are cooperating in their development efforts. While electric vehicle developments are good in some areas, there are others where it will be extremely difficult (at best) to decarbonize. Motorcycles are one area where the flexibility and range afforded by petrol engines are difficult to replace with batteries given current technology. Hence, this HySE initiative is extremely good news for bikers.
10) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)
Sunday 11th June - Rideout (Destination: TBC)
Meet 10:00 at Abduls, 151 Broadway, Lupset, Wakefield WF2 8AU. Check Wakefield Motorcycles Facebook Group for details: www.facebook.com/groups/317356459505503/events
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th June - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally
See Above. www.mapevents.co.uk
Monday 19th June - Ride To Work Day 2023
See Above
Wednesday 28th June - Yorkshire Region Meeting
See Above. 19:30 - 21:00 at Squires Cafe Bar, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, South Milford, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS25 5LX
TBC - Fight Motorcycle Theft 2023 LEEDS
See Above
Saturday 8th July - Rideout (Destination: TBC)
Meet 10:00 at Abduls, 151 Broadway, Lupset, Wakefield WF2 8AU. Check Wakefield Motorcycles Facebook Group for details: www.facebook.com/groups/317356459505503/events
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)
See Above. www.mapevents.co.uk
Saturday 9th September - Wakefield MAG 21st Birthday Bash
See Above
Saturday 23rd September - MAG Annual General Conference
See Above
See the events page for further details and more !!!
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.