In an announcement made on August 4, 2023, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) revealed its decision to leave the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Association (FEMA).

The BMF’s choice to exit FEMA was prompted by the perceived resource demands imposed by the European Union-based association. The financial burden of FEMA’s membership dues, combined with its diminishing relevance to UK riders, led the BMF to redirect its resources toward more effective lobbying efforts.

One issue that fuelled the BMF’s deliberations was the regulatory and exemption considerations for vintage motorcycles in the EU, following the UK’s departure from the bloc. A specific incident involving a Triumph motorcycle being impounded in 2022 drew attention from both the BMF and FEMA. The question of FEMA’s value in light of the UK’s non-membership in the EU arose as a result.

BMF Chairman Jim Freeman explained, “It has become increasingly clear that UK riders will have to fight legislation that affects them here, in the UK. We can no longer depend on FEMA to do that for us, as an EU based organisation it is of declining relevance and utility to UK riders. Looking to the future this will increasingly be the case.”

With FEMA demanding an onerous annual fee of £12,000, the BMF believed those funds could be better employed in lobbying activities within the UK. The BMF council concluded that the organization’s efforts and budget would be more effectively focused on the UK, where members expected maximum dedication.

Freeman elaborated, “The resources that FEMA demands are already burdensome, £12,000 per annum. We need to use that money to support our lobbying work here, in the UK. This is because, in future, we will have to pay more to be effective here, where our members expect our maximum effort. £12,000 is a third of our lobbying funding, out of our turnover of £200,000.”

Furthermore, the BMF anticipated that FEMA’s resource demands would escalate over time, with the current £12,000 annual fee being deemed costly and likely to increase in the future.

Although the BMF council has voted to withdraw, the organization will remain a part of FEMA until 2024. The British members of FEMA will continue to carry out their roles and responsibilities in the organization until the 2024 FEMA Annual General Meeting (AGM).