Shouting or Educating?

Over the weekend my BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) members’ magazine – Motorcycle Rider – slipped through the letterbox. As soon as it was removed from its plastic wrapper I leafed through to the lobby section to read up on what the BMF’s political bod Chris Hodder was up to as regarding the EU Commission regulation proposal.

Given the importance of the issue there was no surprise to find four full pages covering the Regulation proposal.

The contents of the lobby section, are already published on the BMF website, including “The nuts and bolts of type approval” article which starts with: “Proposed changes to motorcycle type approval procedures have got a lot of attention from the press recently. But much of the debate has been based on false information and extreme interpretations. We set out to assess the facts.” and does just that.

Visit To Brussels

Chris Hodder reports on his visit to Brussels with the purpose of clarifying the motorcyclists’ position and to get to the bottom of type approval: “What’s proposed, when it will happen and how it will affect motorcyclists by meeting MEPs.”

Chris met, Malcolm Harbour MEP for the West Midlands and Chair of the IMCO committee (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) “in charge” of the EU Parliaments side of the regulation proposal.  He also met Bill Newton Dunn MEP Liberal Democrat for The East Midlands and member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group, who had approached the BMF for clarification. His reason was so that he could form a view after numerous complaining emails without specifics or being consistent or accurate. Finally, Chris met Catherine Stihler Labour MEP for Scotland and a member of the IMCO

The article sets out some of the BMF concerns and opinions which are, “Namely over ABS and sweeping anti-tampering proposals, there are positive things in this legislation that we should welcome, such as CO2 measurement, universal access to repair and maintenance information and standardised diagnostic systems (i.e.) warning lights for failed components).

“How Will It Affect Me?”

Finally there is a question and answer section “How Will It Affect Me?” This looks at how the proposal will affect different riders of different styles of motorcycles from the Classic Bike Enthusiast to the Custom Bike Builder through to the Sportsbike Enthusiast, Adventurer Bike Rider and Touring Rider.

Bike Dealers, Independent Workshops or Garages are also covered and picks up on access to manufacturers data repair and maintenance information, standardised on-board diagnostics which will mean a wider range of bikes can be serviced and repaired by non-franchised workshops. The BMF do point out that these bikes, “Will also be more complicated, but this is the current trend anyway with traction control and high-end ABS, for example.”

This is also the crux of the proposed regulation which is to catch up on technical advances and innovations and to make sure that what innovations the manufacturers are offering riders, either as part of what they think riders need or what riders are asking for.  This is in the context of the expectation that the next generation of motorcycles is technically capable, safe and of standardised conformity.

Don’t mistake the use of the word “conformity” as meaning a “Euro Spec” bike that is bland and universally the same from each manufacturer. In this context conformity means that each model of motorcycle produced e.g. every Honda Fireblade sitting in a dealer’s showroom will be the same as it comes out of the box on performance, emissions and basically will not fall apart, at least not until the warranty period is over – but there’s a whole different discussion.

Innovations and production of different types and styles from the manufacturers are not dead.

A Certain Trend

Anyway back to the BMF.  There is a certain “trend” on the Lobby pages with reference to lobbying MEPs, such as “Many MEPs are willing to help on this issue but if we want them to lobby on motorcycling’s behalf, we mustn’t muddy the water with spurious claims”.

“Confusion has arisen ……because there has been a lot of ill-informed scaremongering over these proposals (sometimes throwing in issues that have nothing to do with this legislation) that have only served to confuse the whole issue, including MEPs.” Proposed changes to motorcycle type approval procedures have got a lot of attention from the press recently, but much of the debate has been based on false information and extreme interpretations.”

At Right To Ride we have said previously and reiterate, “A big round of appreciative applause from Right To Ride for the BMF telling it like it is and following very close behind with what we have been writing for over two years.”

Finally and we couldn’t agree more with the BMF that, “The important thing to bear in mind is that this is the way the European Union does things. There’s no hidden agenda to curb motorcycling, it’s just that some politicians and some bureaucrats are so desperate to reduce motorcycle casualties that they come up with all sorts of odd ideas and it’s our job to put them right, not by shouting at them but by educating them.”

Trevor Baird @ Right To Ride

HOW WILL IT AFFECT ME?

Extract from BMF “Motorcycle Rider” magazine no 59 Summer 2012

CURRENT BIKE or CLASSIC BIKE ENTHUSIAST

All of this legislation will only apply to new motorcycles produced after it comes into effect. It will have no impact at all on current or old bikes and will not affect the supply of parts, many of which are second hand anyway.

RACER

Things such as ABS and restrictions on some tuning parts (not those used exclusively for racing) may be of concern for riders competing in stock motorcycle based championships and events. Obviously current bikes are unaffected and manufacturers may respond by having non-type-approved bikes for sale (racing specials) to fill the gap.

BIKE DEALER

The most noticeable difference may be that new bikes will have fuel consumption data published alongside them and even second-hand dealers will now have access to manufacturers’ data.

INDEPENDENT WORKSHOP or GARAGE

Access to repair and maintenance information and standardised on-board diagnostics will mean that a wider range of bikes can be serviced and repaired by non-franchised workshops. Naturally, these bikes will also be more complicated, but this is the current trend anyway with traction control and·high-end ABS, for example.

TOURING RIDER

Most large touring bikes come with ABS anyway, so it’s unlikely you’ll notice a difference other than being able to compare manufacturers’ official fuel consumption figures with personal experience.

CUSTOM BIKE BUILDER

One-off specials will still be built the existing way, either adapting existing bikes or getting ‘Single Vehicle Approval’ (SVA) for brand-new bikes. Malcolm Harbour told us: “At my initiative, to allow unique bikes to be exported into Europe, we are having discussions to embed existing EU rules on the mutual recognition of goods into this regulation for motorbikes to ensure, in particular, that UK SVA approvals are not blocked by authorities in other EU member states. “This could be a benefit for custom bike builders.

ADVENTURE BIKE RIDER

New bikes will be fitted with ABS and some manufacturers will reserve the right to add a switch to turn it off for off tarmac riding. Fitting fog lights, crash bars and luggage racks will not be affected in any way.

LEARNER RIDERS

Mopeds will continue to have their speed restricted and, as now, you will not be allowed to tamper with them (as per your licence). The difference will be how easy it will or won’t be to continue to circumvent these restrictions. 125s and possibly the new category of A2 motorcycle (up to 48bhp) will also have some controls on them. More importantly, there is also a debate about how much the cost of ABS will add to a new bike. This needs clarification as current estimates seem widely speculative.

SPORTSBIKE ENTHUSIAST

Atermarket parts such as rear-sets, tail-tidies and the like, for the most part, will not be affected. There is a question over whether some more marginal parts would be allowed, such as air filters and exhausts, but at this stage it is assumed that they will be allowed. New bikes will, of course, have ABS, but as many new sportsbikes already have ABS this is not surprising.

That then, is where we are at the time of writing, but in a constantly developing process, please check the BMF’s website for the latest position. The important thing to bear in mind is that this is the way the European Union does things.

There’s no hidden agenda to curb motorcycling, it’s just that some politicians and some bureaucrats are so desperate to reduce motorcycle casualties that they come up with all sorts of odd ideas and it’s our job to put them right, not by shouting at them but by educating them.

Links & Information

BMF website – www.bmf.co.uk

The Nuts And Bolts Of Type Approval – Click Here

Type Approval and You- Click Here

BMF Briefing On EU Type Approval Debate – October 2011 (updated April 2012) – Click Here

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