MrGrumpy wrote:Data wrote:I agree. We make up a disproportionately large number of the road user deaths/casualties, but we are in fact a very tiny group of road users. So you can see where they are coming from. Our bikes compared to cars are incredibly dirty and on the whole very fuel inefficient. Too many people mess with their bikes and often leave them in a dangerous state. Used to see it all the time. So the rules will hopefully bring about some useful changes and we will all benefit.
So, whats the connection between fuel inefficiency and bureaucratic rules on mods to bikes? and to casualties? Dirty?There aren't many 2-strokes left you know, and rules on exhaust gases are steadily getting stricter.
Please explain how these rules on mods will cause rider casualties to go down, cos I can't see any sensible connection.
My take.
Grumpy, I understand your concern. But we are talking about an overall revision of bike regs regarding a number of areas. Modifying & Safety, MOT's and license rules. The proposed changes I've seen to date are in the main all good for the biker and the bike industry. I spent a whole day at a conference listening to the proposals and the effects it would have. It's all good and any sensible person will think the same if in possession of the facts! If we want biking to move on and flourish we must have more order and get better bikes and safety. The changes are/will be ONE way forward and will without any doubt result in better safety and better bikes. Some may have other views which differ, and I mean no disrespect when I say these views often appear to be views born out of not knowing about the new rules being proposed, and what the reality is at the moment for bikers and the biking world. And of course, some just shut their eyes to reality. As far as I can tell, the only people that will be affected by the new rules in any way are the people who currently flout the law and who wish to continue to do so either intentionally, or in ignorance. And there is a lot of the latter, ignorance I mean. The sheer ignorance amongst a group of young bikers I was talking to the other day was startling. This concerned a range of things relating to their own bikes. One of them had actually drilled through the swing arm (in two places) of his bike to attach an accessories. In doing so the swing arm had been seriously weakened and was dangerous. It would not pass even the current MOT like that I pointed out and did mention it was dangerous. He said he was doing it now to avoid the new rules. I pointed out the obvious to him as anyone would as his very life was being risked plus that of others. And that is what we are all up against, a largely poorly informed biking community where scaremongering is alive a well and misinformation flourishes. We tend to bury our heads in the sand and say everything is alright and leave us alone. From my time in the trade I can tell you that things like the swingarm mod is just the tip of the iceburg of what techs see. Myself and colleagues saw these things all the time and yet the public, bless em, just didn't seem to realise the danger. Do you not think we need some protection from ourselves? If it's reasonable I see no objection and the new rules will be nothing but reasonable I can assure you. I am old enough to remember MAG campaigning against compulsory helmet wearing...arguing the public knew best!! Yeah right! That's why the death rate went down when we all starting wearing helmets by compulsion. That and the compulsory training and better bikes that came from the improved MOT standards that were introduced. It's a range of things that make the difference. The new rules will certainly help in that regard as it will make everything crystal clear as to what can and what cannot be done and it WILL improve the checks to make sure we are all safe.
On the subject of the new emissions testing. Bikes at the moment only have to comply with Euro3 regs. Cars have to comply with Euro5, and Euro6 comes in a few months, followed by euro7 in 2018-19. Bikes are incredibly dirty by comparison to cars even though some have CATS. This means we are all buying bikes that are not as fuel efficient as they could be. More fuel used per mile means dirtier engines. So manufacturers will make better bikes to comply in the future. We are the beneficiaries. The effect of the emissions testing introduced by the bureacrats on cars has been dramatic with much better cars and hugely better fuel economy. This is starting to happen and will continue to happen to bikes too. Once you introduce a rule to have cleaner bikes you must have constant emissions testing to make sure the standard is maintained. Tampering with bikes to de-restrict them can affect emissions if it's not done correctly. It can also be illegal for the underlicenced to gain more power that they maybe can't handle safely at their stage of bike riding development. Other exhaust mods can interfere also with emissions. The new regs won't stop us doing most stuff but will require it to be done correctly and to comply with the rules. There is nothing in the MOT rules being proposed that is onerous. Just some extra sensible testing is going to be included from 2016 or soon after. The knock on effect is that bikes will be safer, manufacturers will have to raise their game also. Take the simple introduction of brake fluid testing into the MOT. It will help safety. Anyone who thinks it won't doesn't understand what techs often see in the bikes that come in for MOT's and servicing. It's incredible just how many people don't ever check it or change it. Even if a tester knows the brake fluid is suspect in a bike that's in for MOT, if the bike passes the brake test there is nothing he can do to affect the situation even knowing the fluid is substandard and could fail in a real emergency. He has to pass it. The new rules will give the tester the power he needs to put the situation right. Better for the biker and for everyone. Experience shows that more control over the MOT has in the past given us safer bikes and cars. This HAS improved safety considerably over the years. That's just plain fact and is provable. And don't forget, there is always an element of fear and trepidation about these things prior to introduction so it's no different now. We need to be aware of the new rules and have our say (we have) and speak out against unreason. But on this occasion we don't have to worry in my opinion. Oh crikey...another long post!
