Today we headed back to Matlock Bath, one of the UK’s most iconic biker hangouts, to check out some incredible bikes and catch up with the motorcycle community… but this ride turned into a much bigger conversation. 🏍️
While out on the road, one thing became impossible to ignore… the shocking state of potholes across the UK and how dangerous they’re becoming for all of us on two wheels.
But there is some good news for motorcycling in 2026.
According to the latest figures from the Motorcycle Industry Association, motorcycle sales in the UK are up nearly 16% compared with last year, with Adventure bikes seeing almost 30% growth. More people than ever are getting into biking, which is fantastic to see and proves how strong the motorcycle community is right now.
At the same time though, we also need to talk about another growing issue… bike theft.
With more motorcycles on UK roads, theft continues to be one of the biggest concerns for riders, with criminals targeting bikes faster than ever. We spend thousands on our bikes, security, insurance and maintenance… yet we’re still facing poor road conditions and a constant battle to keep our bikes safe.
So in this video we take a ride to Matlock Bath, check out some amazing bikes, talk about the state of UK roads, discuss the latest motorcycle sales figures and ask the question…
Is motorcycling booming in the UK… but are riders being forgotten?
Let us know in the comments:
Have potholes ever damaged your bike?
Are you worried about bike theft where you live?
And what do you think needs to change for riders in the UK?
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#Motorcycles #MatlockBath #BikeLife #MotorcycleNews #BikeTheft #Potholes #UKBikers #AdventureBikes #MotorcycleCommunity
36 Comments
I wish I had kept my adventure bike with how the roads are
You know your right it's a bloody disgusting that's the one thing that should be right 💯
It's always nice to visit Matlock bath can't wait to actually arrive on a bike again after nearly 20 years of not having one next year got to be done 💯🙂
They are doing my back in and sometimes if a pothole is bad enough i end up with a splitting headache.
My trike dosent have independent rear suspension.
Don't fancy an electric bike. Motorcycling is dangerous enough with other road user's not seeing us and then making it worse by being silent as well. Not for me thanks i would rather have a nice exhaust note so people know im coming!
These guys with the camping gear could have come from the Farmyard Party that is run by MAG
Gravy with fish? Noooooo!
They aren't interested in repairing the roads, they just want to spend money on road technology that shows who is using phones, speeding, not wearing seat belts etc. That is road safety, but wait! These cameras make money, loads of money. So why should they repair roads for safety, the tech cameras keep us safe! And where does that money go that they make?
in france they would organise a biker ride out to block major motorways on august bank holiday until they sort it ?
there is a question – why does it cost so much to surface a road? its only tarmac . i suspect a few construction companies are ripping the country off for their own profits. in Northamptonshire its Kier – completley incompetent and incredibly slow . its all about profit – use a skeleton number of workmen , do a bad job that will need redoing and rip off the council. we need to get roadworks back in government controll. yes its always going to be inefficient but at least the wasted money isn't going into the CEOs/shareholders pocket.
Fells like the Goverment wants Bikers off the roads any way
The main culprits of all these pot holes are EVs they're far too heavy for our roads.
They are making potholes faster than the council can fill them. The goverment knows this and treat it as an elephant in the room, because the only solution to it is to dig up ALL the roads in Great Britain right down to the foundations and the drains, then rebuild them stronger to take the wieght.
Most of these cars weigh in access of a ton, thats quarter of a ton on each wheel condensed onto an area of about 24 square inches per tyre, and 4 tyres all within that small wheel base area ads up to a lot of force pressing down in that small area on the road surface.
God knows how heavy these EV busses and wagons weigh but at least the weights spread over a larger area. The only alternatives are to ban EVs or fork out billions of pounds to upgrade the roads, and I don't think the government are willing to or can afford to do ether without admitting that EVs are an all round failure.
Can't expect pot holes to be fixed they have got to look after over 200,000 illegal immigrants and hotel costs first . It's all going to welfare.
Totally agree simon, some of the potholes by us are nearly six inches deep hit one on a bike and your off, heads should roll.
Government aren’t fussed. Their ultimate aim is to get us all off the roads eventually
Even more of a hazard in the wet / dark
Too busy putting up Revenue Cameras
Another great video.
We’ve had the hot tar and gravel chuckers out near me in Shepshed, Leicestershire. Lethal and a bodge job. First spell of hot weather and all the gravel gets pulled out by car tyres, leaving a couple of grip free shiny tar strips that are lethal in the wet for bikes.
Still finding tarmac for speed bumps though
Hi Simon & Amy, I just got my Litelock bundle & used your discount code. Thank you very much.
That's why I sold my Busa and bought a QJ 900 sx beautiful to ride now
Today's roads are a nightmare for car drivers, and absolutely dangerous for motorcycles, scooters e-bikes etc.
The government needs to do something fast and save a lot of injuries and deaths
Cameras are more important than filling pot holes to this Government. Quangos like natural England should be closed down to free up money for roads. Pot holes is part of the reason that adventure bikes are so popular today.
Nice vid si
You can blame David Cameron and George Osborne for the state of the roads. They encouraged councils to outsource highway maintenance to companies who do only what their contract says and no more, then started almost two decades of austerity that was a political choice rather than the necessity they told us it was.
My two bikes road tax are more than the wifes car what is that about ,I dont think bikes do any damage to the roads , anyhow loved the video and liked the the urban tiger Fireblade , the guy speeding down the street , not the place or time !!!! Maybe Im just getting old Lol Cheers Rod.
The roads in any country reflect the quality (or lack of) of their Politicians 😂
Simon
Cast your mind back to your ride you shared with us in Thailand.
Im sure you will agree that on the whole the roads here in Thailand are in far better condition than the UK and Australia
And to think the world see's us as a third world country
All bad things are by design.
Despite the road conditions it was nice to see the moto turnout. I've never seen such a diverse group of bikes and in excellent shape. I never see anything like this in the States. Even in a modest amount of sunshine you and Amy B delivered another brilliant video. 👍👍
Biker Andrew Freakley died after hitting a pothole March 2026. The 43-year-old had been overtaking a van when he clattered into the one-metre-square pothole which catapulted him into the path of an oncoming car.
Chinese bikers in Matlock and they didn’t expect you to be fluent in Mandarin.
To many garage queens,
The tube cant decide if motorcycing is in decline or booming. I dont care when im riding my bike.
It’s just about paying your taxes and being a motorcyclist, what about other road users, cyclists and pedestrians? Would it not affect pedestrian crossing the road be affected?
Unfortunately, Motorcycling is not booming in the UK.
Just check the number of motor bike dealers going bankrupt or shutting down due to lack of sales and profitability.
Bloody hopeless isn’t it given the price you pay for fuel.