Thousands of bikers recently made their voices heard regarding EU proposals on bike modifications. We get to the bottom of the potential new regulations and find out how motorcyclists are campaigning against them.
Bikers are facing regulatory changes to their passion and way of life, with EU proposals aimed at curbing modifications as well as other elements of life on two wheels.
The raft of issues is likely to have a profound effect on riders and the motorcycle industry and the potential new laws have elicited passionate responses from bikers around the country.
At the heart of the proposal, the European Commission is aiming to bring together 20 directives (which member states are not obliged to adhere to) into one regulation, which is a legal requirement.
What will the restrictions mean?
Factors covered in the proposals include compulsory ABS, the sealing of powertrains (including the diameter and aspect ratio of the rear tyre), restrictions on aftermarket upgrades and modifications and tighter control over emissions.
Last month, more than 40,000 bikers staged a mass protest, heading out on to dual carriageways and motorways at exactly the same time in a record-breaking go-slow.
As the Motorcycle Action Group explains, bikers have two main concerns with the proposals.
The first relates to Article 18 on anti-tampering. This, says MAG campaigns manager Paddy Tyson, assumes that all modifications make bikes go faster.
Secondly, there are worries about Article 17 on defeating devices, which would make it illegal for owners to overcome the way the bike was set up by the manufacturer. Again, Mr Tyson and fellow bikers say this limits bikers’ choices and is not the answer to tackling illegal modifications.
Still undecided
The debating and consultation process has already been going on for several months, and the UK government has recently closed its consultation, which called for views from the biking community.
MEPs will cast their votes at the end of November, but the outcome is still very much up in the air.
“At this stage, things are still proceeding without proper research and full information,” Mr Tyson explains.
“The EU Commission is asking MEPs to vote on something they have not got right, as proper research has not been carried out and figures and answers are not available.
“Bikers have made a fuss and spoken their minds and we have already had much success; getting the British government to take a closer look at the proposals.
“It is now looking like MEPs and the Council will disagree with the Commission over certain elements at least, and if that happens it will be a huge boost.”
Much of the concern over the proposals stems from the idea of stopping bikers from making changes that affect the speed, power or performance of their machine.
But the way things are currently written, simply using tyres from a different manufacturer or installing a new air filter could break the rules.
“There is a real sense of feeling that there is an incongruity between the legislation and what happens and the people it affects,” Mr Tyson continues.
“The government has been fighting a lot and its own impact assessment should give more complete answers and feedback than the EU reports, so there is still hope.”
But there are positive aspects to the proposals as well.
MAG has pointed out that the idea of stating carbon dioxide levels for new bikes would give a clear indication of which are the most eco-friendly and allow bikers to benefit from zero tax bands.
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