EU law makers trying to ban bike modificatins.. massive protest, very little news coverage

EU law makers trying to ban bike modificatins.. massive protest, very little news coverage

www.itv.com

Hundreds of bikers staged a rolling roadblock on the A1 in protest about proposed new EU rules on how they maintain their bikes.

The riders held up traffic for about half an hour as they rode in convoy at 40mph from Carrville, near Durham, to Washington services at lunchtime.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Before anyone decides that this is not BAN, I want to state my point as to why I have posted this here.

firstly, this EU law could make ANY modified motorbike illegal to be ridden on the roads. Why only motorbikes? Why not cars too?

Secondly, where is the news reports on this event. I only found out about it on the 6pm news and the only bit of major reporting I can find on this is from a youtube vid of the actual news broadcast itself.

Why the silence from the MSM?

Here is todays news report from TV;

This is the only MAJOR MSM report on todays protest ride.
The link I have provided for the opening 'story snippet' is ITV news, but local to the Tyne-Tees area...not national.

I love the reporters final example of a modified motorbike..

I tried a google search for 'bikers protest' and several other variations, yet all i could come up with was the previous protest from 2011, like this one here;
Bikers stage M1 protest over EU modification plans

You try it.. see what you get.. try to find todays protest by thousands of bikers all across the UK... I'll be interested to see what you lot can find.

Here, as in the USA and many other places, there are some die-hard bikers out there who will build a bike from scratch and spend thousands on them, and get them roadworthy.

The same goes for many four wheeled enthusiasts. Kit cars, chipped cars, big bore exhausts, stage 3 heads, high lift cams, hepolite pistons, balanced and polished cranks etc etc.. all modifications.. sometimes far more than ever happens to a motorbike.

Why does the EU feel the need to ban any modded bike? What can possibly be the thinking behind this?
Can you imagine the cost of everyone having to put their bike right and for the government to set up a system where all bikes must be checked for mods before being allowed on the road.

The funny thing is, it's usually the manufacturers who modify the bikes prior to them being sold anyway, every new vehicle is an upgrade from what once was..

Politics gone mad...

So, there you have it...very little reporting on an EU "brainwave" that may become law across Europe..

Let's hope it does not spread to the USA too..

Where are the Hells Angels when you need them?
All those chapters out there..

www.itv.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Originally posted by Extralien
firstly, this EU law

What EU law?
Whats the actual text of the law?
Dont want to see quotes from the media. Want the actual law.

There are some very useful mods that convert to alternative fuels and china has solar bikes out, maybe they are trying to prevent this.

I WOULD RIDE OPENLY IF I HAD ONE. NO OBEDIENCE TO CRIMINALS.

reply to post by alfa1


Here is some of it.. Am trying to find something that is more official.

The Anti tampering Regulation: Specifically Article 18 which wants to stop all modifications to complete power train, from airbox to controlling the rear tyre profile.

Compulsory ABS. If we can’t stop this, we must get a switch so that we have an option in difficult conditions where ABS doesn’t function well.

Automatic headlights on- passing the blame for poor observation on to us.

OBD. On Board Diagnostics so that easy roadside checks can be made of our emissions and so that constant readouts of engine performance can be obtained. Expensive, complicated and with the threat, rather like a tacho, of identifying past riding style…

RMI. Repair and Maintenance Information. Rather than keeping it hidden and available for huge expense, there is a chance that manufacturers will be forced to provide ECU codes etc for a fee. What that fee is remains to be seen.

The very worrying article 52: “If systems, components or seperate technical units on a list in a delegated act to this regulation, have a dual use, for vehicles intended exclusively for racing on roads and for vehicles intended for use on public roads, they may not be sold or offered for sale to consumers” So if your K&N filter can fit a CBR race bike and a CBR road bike, the best way to police that, is to make it illegal to sell the filter in Europe.The Delegated Acts are the most scary thing, as they are the lists and details drawn up by the unelected and we won’t get to see what they are including until after the Regulation has been passed!

www.ridersarevoters.org...

I found that link via this link from 2011
www.pistonheads.com...

Still digging around..

reply to post by Extralien


I'm a biker of nearly forty years, though currently having a break. It's not clear whether we are talking about performance / handling here, or cosmetic improvements...or both.

If it is about performance " enhancements " I would suggest that the handling and performance of most standard out of the crate super bikes ( If this is what we are talking about..l) is more than enough for anyone, I would have thought ( Hayabusa, Fireblade, zx10r, et al.)

( I had one of the early zx10r's, frighteningly quick, it was more than enough for me..)

reply to post by MrJohnSmith


If you look simply at the ABS issue on its own, then how many bike builders do you know that are capable of fitting an ABS system that works and can afford to buy said system for a custom build bike?

It's insane..

Many hand built bikes are show winners.. but others are someone hard work, sweat, blood and tears and nothing more than a pleasure to ride and own something you've made..

Originally posted by Extralien
Here is some of it.. Am trying to find something that is more official.

Likewise.
All I see so far on the internet is second hand stories.

Conversely, the British Motorcyclists Federation says...

But much of the debate has been based on false information and extreme interpretations.

Basically, they arent too paticulary concerned about most of the regulations, and are of the opinion that most discussion so far is scaremongering, and are actually in favour of most of them.

Dont worry, we'll still be able to mod, it just means they can hand out more money making tickets coz thats what its all about, moeny money money.

Been riding for 39 years, have an aging TDM that could do with a few mods

reply to post by Extralien


Fair points, Extralien. Another nail in the coffin of the motorcycle industry, I'm afraid. I don't know which country you are in, but here in the UK, there are aren't that many youngsters taking up motorcycling, other than a moped before quickly graduating to a car.

Mostly, the only people who can afford expensive motorcycles are the middle aged ( Me.) with the spare cash and affordable insurance. Motorcycle insurance for young men on sports / hyper sports bikes is prohibitively expensive, which will help to kill motorcycling too, in time.

A real shame.

I hope this latest insanity goes the same way as the idea of "Type Approval" for motor-cycles in the 90's.
It is strange that motorcycles seem to be at the forefront of the EU lawmakers attentions, as someone else said superbikes out of the crate at 150+ Bhp are blisteringly quick, i know someone who was an engineer in the navy for 20+ years he built a work of art from the floor up, designed and machined every single part himself, a beuatiful work of art, to see something like that made illegal because a bunch of suits don't like them, seems a bit megalomaniacal.
His zx10r produces 250bhp, that is a scary bike, and how can you legislate against parts when it is fairly easy to own and race a track bike and they are so easily interchangeable.
I can see bikers getting a bit uppity about this and the police having to chase tweaked bikes to get them to stop.
Im sure there are many with a wry smile on their face and a bring it on attitude.

Originally posted by MrJohnSmith
reply to post by Extralien

 

I'm a biker of nearly forty years, though currently having a break. It's not clear whether we are talking about performance / handling here, or cosmetic improvements...or both.

If it is about performance " enhancements " I would suggest that the handling and performance of most standard out of the crate super bikes ( If this is what we are talking about..l) is more than enough for anyone, I would have thought ( Hayabusa, Fireblade, zx10r, et al.)

( I had one of the early zx10r's, frighteningly quick, it was more than enough for me..)

Been riding for many years and the problem I have with this would be the ABS breaks. Sometimes you just need to slide that bike and drop it to avoid the accident. Never tried it with ABS but I'm thinking that it is a hindrance rather than a help.

Cars with ABS ok...Bikes? Not too sure about that.

Peace

reply to post by The X


Luv your last sentence ! The forces of law and order have enough on their plates, already, without having to enforce these proposed laws.

I may take great pleasure in breaking these laws when I get back in / on the saddle again, a Toyota IQ just isn't the same, somehow, something missing...Oh yes, shattering acceleration, and being battered by the wind at speed, developing neck muscles Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of...

reply to post by MrJohnSmith


Am in the UK, been riding since 1987.

at the ripe young age of 21, I had A Kwak Z750.. insurance was £450 a year... until I started as a courier.. then I had to add another £1,000 to that..

As for manufacturer mods, do you remember when the very first 'upside down' front forks came out..?

Now that was a major mod that nobody had ever considered before.. now it's the norm.

reply to post by The X

I was there at Traflager square in the 90's with MAG and BSH protesting about the leg protectors they wanted bikes to have fitted.
I still remember one cartoon in BSH where said protectors wereon a bike and the rider came off...leaving his legs nicely sliced and still on the bike while he careered off down the road..

I also remember when one of the big bosses from MSN was killed on the motorway whilst riding his CBR.. which were new at the time..

reply to post by jude11

Got to agree there.. can't beat sliding the bike instead of a head on slam.
I flew over the bonnet of a car once. It pulled out in front of me, I put the bike into a slide and crumpled the hell out of the cars wing.. I came off, over the car.. got back up, walked around to my bike and had a small dent in the petrol tank. Cars wing had had it though.. rather that then the entire front end of my bike

One thing that I have always kept in my mind.. I'd rather be able to jump off my bike than be trapped upside down in a burning crushed car..

This proposed ban beggars belief.. Why bikes?
Why not the cars too..
I don't get it..

Ive been riding for about 10 years.
Every single one of the bikes I have owned have been modified in one way or another, to imporve handling, performance, or looks. It is a hobby for me!

I Do all my own work, so I don't have any maintnance records to show.
And my bike is a classic Kawasaki, so OBD Is out of the question. As is ABS.
In other words, Good luck regulating what is hiding inside my engine and carbs. The only possible way to know would to be a DYNO..And HP/Torque would have to be compared to stock.

I hope this fizzles out....I think It is incredibly ridiculous to create stringent regulations like this, This will put a lot of hard working people out of jobs.

I'm in WA State so I don't have anything to worry about yet I guess, But If the time comes and they try pushing this BS here, I along with probably all of the motorcyclists I know will gladly fight this in any way we can.

Ride On

reply to post by llmacgregor


Like i said earlier.. Imagine all the Hells angels and other chapters out there ...

I think we can safely assume they'll be one bunch who wont go for a single second of this nonsense...

I've still been searching for anything else, as in news, in regards to this and there is still nothing.. I see England lost to Italy is breaking news on the BBC right now.. whoopee doo.. like I care about that..
I've been through every section of BBC and nothing..
Been crawling Google like mad.. nothing..

One odd thing I did notice though, and perhaps someone can explain this.. I'll quote what I mean..

EU law makers trying to ban bike modificatins.. massive protest ...
www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread854303/pg1
1 post - 14 hours ago
Before anyone decides that this is not BAN, I want to state my point as to ... firstly, this EU law could make ANY modified motorbike illegal to be ...

is.gd...

Why does it say this thread was posted 14 hours ago???

Back on topic..
Why is this proposed law so hard to find.. why is there no news about this.. most of what does exist is from Sept. 2011..
Even youtube has loads of stuff from 2011. The only one I was lucky enough ti find for now was the vid I've posted up top.

Very odd, imo...

reply to post by Extralien


Re: " Upside down " forks, yes, I remember, a lot of track " Mods " found their way on to production bikes, mostly improving power, brakes and handling.

I'm old enough to remember bikes like the Kawasaki 750 two stroke triples, and the first Z1 Both powerful bikes in their day ,but with abysmal brakes and handling ( Remember stainless steel brake discs ? ) Ps not picking on Kawasaki, they were all in the same boat, in respect of brakes and handling...

Without the improvements and mods transferred from track bikes, they wouldn't be what they are now...

Sad thing is, the government has always wanted to shut down motorcycling, and keeps having a pop every now and then, unsuccessfully, so far...

reply to post by MrJohnSmith



I had a 72 Z1 And I have to agree the brakes were barley adequate.
I completely agree with you, With out modifications advances on old technology would be a lot slower.

What ever happened to freedom? Nobody needs a government to micromanage their lifes. Infact if you have speed limits, its already illegal to exceed that. Wtf?

reply to post by MrJohnSmith


I've always felt that mopeds/motorbikes should be cumpolsory to ride before even getting behind the wheel of a car.

The lessons you learn about the road on a bike, you'll never do in a car.

One thing about certain track racing cars.. There is one type of track race where you gotta drive the car to the track, so you've got your modded car on the roads which is capable of going at speeds far greater than a standard model.
But, ohno, that's not a problem.. it's got 4 wheels and uses more petrol.. so revenue is greater..