Road surface quality can change the character of a motorcycle ride in an instant. A pothole is the obvious hazard, but worn tarmac, repairs, uneven surfaces and damaged edges can also disturb a bike, especially when it is cornering. An analysis by field management software company Re-flow Field Management identifies the UK areas where A, B and C roads are most frequently flagged for attention in Department for Transport road-condition data.

The analysis groups roads into red and amber classifications. Red indicates a road considered to be in poor condition and potentially requiring immediate investigation or maintenance. Amber roads are also flagged for attention, although they do not fall into that most urgent category. Together, the two classifications provide a broader picture than a simple count of potholes.

West Northamptonshire leads the overall picture

West Northamptonshire is at the top of the overall list, with around 83% of its roads classed as needing improvement. Its A-roads comprise 5% red-rated and 71% amber-rated sections. The figures for B and C roads are 17.5% red and 72.5% amber. That leaves a substantial proportion of the network requiring attention, even though much of it is outside the immediate-investigation classification.

Derbyshire ranks second overall and has the highest proportion of red-rated A-roads in the analysis: 20.4%. A further 44% of its A-roads are amber. Its B and C roads record 27% red and 47.6% amber. The result is especially relevant to riders because Derbyshire and the Peak District contain popular motorcycle routes, where a poor or inconsistent surface can influence a bike’s behaviour.

Amber roads still matter to riders

North Northamptonshire is third overall. Red sections account for 3% of its A-roads and 10% of its B and C roads, while the amber shares are considerably higher at 71% and 82% respectively. Bristol, Southend-on-Sea, Bath and North East Somerset, Bradford and Liverpool also appear among the areas with the highest proportions of roads requiring attention.

For a motorcyclist, an amber classification can still describe a meaningful risk. It may involve deteriorating tarmac, an uneven surface, repair work or another defect that has not reached the threshold for immediate intervention. A motorcycle has less contact with the road than a car, and a pothole, broken edge or badly repaired section can unsettle it. The effect may be particularly serious when the bike is already loaded in a turn.

Sunderland sits at the other end of the table, with the best road surfaces in the analysis and just 1% of its roads requiring immediate investigation. Road quality therefore varies significantly between areas. Responsibility for maintaining and repairing A, B and C roads rests with individual councils, making conditions a locally managed issue across the UK network.