The 40th anniversary of FFMC: a journey through the history of the motorcycle movement in France

Forty years of making engines roar, ranting against the cops, stuffy politicians, and the rules that annoy us. The FFMC is not just a federation; it’s the mother of all battles for motorcyclists' freedom in France. From the motorcycle vignette that sparked outrage in the 80s to the fight against technical inspections, not to mention the daily struggle for better roads, this book recounts all the chaos, victories, and pressure tactics of a movement that has turned the French biking scene upside down like a big Ducati in burn-out mode.

40 years of motorcycling movement history in France: the genesis of the revolt

At the beginning of the 80s, when the motorcycle vignette was released, it marked the beginning of the clash. A group of angry young bikers, tired of being seen as rebels without a cause by a conservative society, took up arms — or rather handlebars — to create what would become the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère. Not just a gang of leather-clad oafs, but a movement that managed to bring together Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda riders, and even those playing it old school on Triumphs or Moto Guzzis. A brutal brake for those who wanted to silence us.

From anger to action: the motorcycling movement derailing clichés

The FFMC is not just about shouting for the sake of shouting. It’s a real collective that has rolled up its sleeves in training, safety, and providing information for motorcyclists. They have set up associations, companies, an entire ecosystem so that we, the BMW, Ducati, or Harley-Davidson riders, are not just numbers in accident statistics. Their fights, sometimes rough, other times brilliant, have helped break down absurd barriers and impose a new vision of road safety, better suited to our machines that scream on the asphalt.

The book on FFMC: a monument for bikers, old-timers, and newcomers

This hefty book — 676 pages of struggles, successes, but also hardships — is THE survival manual for anyone who wants to understand where this slightly crazy family called the FFMC comes from. You’ll find interviews with those who laid the foundations, vintage photos that smell of good old chain oil, and analyses that sweep away nostalgia to pose the real questions: how to protect bikers today in an increasingly restrictive society?

Whether you’re already etched in history as an old-timer or you only know motorcycles by watching them on TikTok, this book is pure gold. It pulls no punches, delivers real insights, and lights the way with the rage and determination that have always characterized the FFMC. The pre-sale bulletin will give you a taste of this epic saga.

A legacy to keep tight between the gloves

This book does not merely tell a story; it transmits. It’s a reminder that while French roads sometimes have increasingly abusive speed bumps, and that attempts at technical inspection seek to hoodwink us like an old Suzuki's air box, the FFMC is there. Always standing, negotiating, shouting, uniting so that tomorrow we ride free, whether it’s on a Harley-Davidson, a Ducati, or a state-of-the-art BMW.

For those who want to delve deeper and grab the book, it is available everywhere, including on Moto Magazine. And if reading excites you, you can even discover the complete itinerary of the movement thanks to PDF files like the one from FFMC06 or FFMC44. From Brittany to the Côte d’Azur, the FFMC has never let bikers down.

FFMC in 2025: still on the front line for motorcyclists

No question of easing up; the FFMC, in 2025, is still and always the thorn in the side of governments. Between debates on filtering traffic, where Yamahas and Kawasakis weave between cars, and the pressures to avoid unnecessary technical inspections — a true snake in the grass for all bikers — they are on all fronts. If you’re looking for info on the latest clashes, check out this article that explains that it’s not over, far from it.

The movement is not a relic; it’s a machine that moves, grumbles, and cuts through. No surprise that in the city or the countryside, whether you’re on a Triumph or a Moto Guzzi, you’ll definitely cross paths with bikers who have the FFMC tattooed on their hearts (or jackets).

Between commitment and passion: the FFMC recipe

This is not just a story to tell; it’s a constant outcry, a fight to keep the motorcycle a symbol of freedom. The book, which is a hit everywhere special edition moto magazine, confirms that the FFMC has transformed into an organization where solidarity rhymes with democracy. It’s no coincidence that many members use the interviews and raw documents from the book to keep the flame burning brightly in their daily battles.

So, would I buy this book? Clearly yes, especially if you want to grasp how this movement of bikers has transitioned from a cabal of angry youths to an indispensable player on the French social scene. If someone lends it to me to go tease the asphalt of Valence, I’m off, one hand on the handlebars, the other flipped to give a finger. Because the FFMC is just that: rage, passion, and real turbo in the essence of motorcycling.