The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) is a
motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
riders' rights group in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. The BMF was founded in 1960 as the Federation of National One Make Motorcycle Clubs to counter accusations of "leather-jacketed hooligans". It renamed itself the BMF in 1965. The group lobbies for motorcyclists' interests at local, national and European levels.
Activities
The BMF represents responsible motorcycle riders in the UK. About 260 motorcycle clubs are affiliated to the BMF, giving it more than 6,500 full and 53,000 affiliated members.
[About BMF](_blank)
, accessed 27 May 2009
It campaigns at local, regional, national levels within the UK, and within the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
through its membership of the
Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations
The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) is a motorcycling advocacy group based in Brussels, Belgium. It was formed on 10 January 1998 from a merger of the Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) and the European Motorcy ...
. It also has representation at the
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM; en, International Motorcycling Federation) is the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing. It represents 116 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regiona ...
.
It provides a complete range of motorcycle training, from
Compulsory Basic Training
In the United Kingdom, the term Compulsory Basic Training (abbreviated to CBT) is a preliminary vehicular training course which must be completed by people wishing to ride a motorcycle or moped unaccompanied on the road, and remains valid for 2 ...
for beginners up to its Blue Riband advanced
rider training and training to become a professional motorcycle instructor. The BMF gives advice on a wide range of issues from security to an online road defect reporting system. Other member services include insurance and information that covers motorcycle touring.
It also supports numerous motorcycle events held in support of many charities. The BMF's North West Region supports disabled motorcyclists through its sponsorship of a marquee at the
National Association for Bikers with a Disability charity's annual You've Been NABBED rally.
It also publishes the magazine ''Motorcycle Rider''.
Intermediate and advanced motorcycle training
The BMF provides two levels of training for riders who already possess a full motorcycle licence. For less experienced riders, the BMF Rider Plus programme provides extra skills in machine handling, cornering and avoiding accidents.
For more experienced riders, the BMF Blue Riband rider award is an advanced riding course to enhance handling skills, cornering and overtaking - while reducing accident risk.
In both cases - unlike the
Institute of Advanced Motorists
IAM RoadSmart formerly called the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is a charity based in the United Kingdom and serving nine countries, whose objective is to improve car driving and motorcycle riding standards, and so enhance road safety, b ...
and
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is a British charity that aims to save lives and prevent life-changing injuries which occur as a result of accidents. In the past, it has successfully campaigned on issues of road safet ...
- the BMF provides training through professional instructors not volunteer observers.
See also
*
Motorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. For some people, motorcycling may be the only affordable form of individual motorized transportation, and small-displacement motorcycles are the most common motor vehicle in the most populous co ...
*
Motorcycling advocacy Motorcycling advocacy is activism for motorcyclists seeking to establish and protect their rights, and to influence issues of interest to the motorcycling community. This includes lobbying organizations that work to influence laws, and groups or in ...
*
ABATE
State motorcyclists' rights organizations (SMROs) exist in about 32 US states, 25 of which call themselves "ABATE of (state name)," the rest going by various other names. SMROs advocate for the motorcycle rider and freedom on the road. In the mot ...
*
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is an American nonprofit organization of more than 200,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights. Its mission statement is "to promo ...
*
Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations
The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) is a motorcycling advocacy group based in Brussels, Belgium. It was formed on 10 January 1998 from a merger of the Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) and the European Motorcy ...
*
Helmet Law Defense League
The Helmet Law Defense League (HLDL) is a group founded in 1993 that opposes the laws in U.S. state, states which mandate motorcycle helmets. The group contends that mandatory motorcycle helmet laws enacted at the state, county, and municipal leve ...
(HLDL)
*
Motorcycle Action Group
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is a motorcycle riders' rights group based in the United Kingdom.
MAG was formed by Dennis Howard, Mick Griffiths, George Potter and Mohar Singh. The minutes of the first meeting held on 28 June 1973 identifi ...
References
External links
BMF Homepage
Motorcycle clubs in the United Kingdom
Motorcyclists organizations
Motorcycle regulation
Motorcycle safety organizations
Organisations based in Leicestershire
Organizations established in 1960
Transport in Leicester
1960 establishments in the United Kingdom
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