The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Bengt_Phorqs on December 19, 2011, 05:52:55 PM
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Is this a valid proposal by EU lawmakers?
http://ukfrancebikers.com/
That just boggles my mind.
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Tyranny unchecked, I fear...
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Am I remembering correctly that the French are also attempting to legislate what type of clothing motorcyclists must wear while riding in France? Strange brew...
By the way, I have for sale a WWII French Army rifle in excellent condition. Dropped only once.
The French have recently unveiled their government's latest terror alert threat procedures:
Level One - Run
Level Two - Surrender
Level Three - Collaborate
Monte
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Sounds lke the same defense plan they had for WWII !!!!!!!
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Their time would be better spent worrying about those Muslims they imported rather than screw with the well meaning motorcyclist repairing his bike........while there is still a France.
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I dont know if the Home Mechanics bit is right but the Clothing issues are along with a load of other stupid proposals from EU officials who think all bikes should have stabilizers and be restricted to peddle power are. The MAG protest ride earlier this year was about these proposals, with the Euro zone in deep debt you would think they would find something more meaningful to spend our cash on (UK contributes £25 million a day).
Lou
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It's not much consolation but these European proposals often get reduced before they get into law. Or even abolished later: France used to have special conditions for classics (over 25 years old I believe) including limitation on how far away from home you could go. That's no longer the law, since last year. About 10 years ago Switzerland planned a motorcycle speed limit of 80 km/hour (50 m.p.h.) but it got thrown out before becoming law. The clothing proposal concerns wearing of reflective waistcoats, say it softly but maybe not such a bad idea! I believe some clothing requirements in Germany are presented as law to scare us but in fact apply only as conditions for some optional medical insurance policies. Maybe things will not be as bad as we think. I would guess that the biggest risk is the idea that only the manufacturer's spare parts can be sold or fitted. That would get us all off the road pretty fast!
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You would think that Europe would have other things to worry about at the moment.
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We've certainly got plenty of financial and political problems over here as well, but I'd still rather be riding here than in Europe. This is utter nonsense..
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There's too much damn gubmint...
Here in the Great State of Texas -and other states, I'm sure- motorcycles over 25 years old can be licensed as an "antique motorcycle". License plates are lower priced and good for five years before renewal.
And, as an added bonus, no annual inspection is required! None. Nada. I like to think that Texas' DOT believes that anyone mechanically and financially able to keep an "antique motorcycle" running must be a pretty good home mechanic.
There are a few minor "operational rules" governing the issue of these vintage license plates and every one of 'em are ignored by the gendarme. My favorite being the one stating that the motorcycle can be ridden at any time for the purpose of "maintenance checks".
Shoot... any time I roll out on either of my R65s, I feel like I'm doing a "maintenance check". [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Monte
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And, as an added bonus, no annual inspection is required! None. Nada. I like to think that Texas' DOT believes that anyone mechanically and financially able to keep an "antique motorcycle" running must be a pretty good home mechanic.
By some strange quirk of enlightenment a similar proposal has been made in the UK. It's not law yet and will only exempt pre - 1965 vehicles so won't be any use to UK members with R65's. Still a step in the right direction.
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There's too much damn gubmint...
I agree.
<snip> motorcycles over 25 years old can be licensed as an "antique motorcycle". <snip> And, as an added bonus, no annual inspection is required! None. Nada. <snip>
Here in New Jersey, they have seen the light. It used to be that motorcycles had to be inspected for mechanical soundness, although they have always been exempt from emissions inspections. New Jersey recently did away with all vehicle inspections except emissions, which now results in the motorcycles not requiring any inspections whatsoever.
Of course, if you are riding a motorcycle that is not mechanically sound, you are a prime candidate for a Darwin award. But at least, for once, gubmint is moving away from the nanny-state.
k_enn
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In Maine we have the same "Antique" registration for 25+years. We have no restriction other than it is assumed that it is not your primary vehicle. The reasoning being that the antique vehicle will not be driven a lot. We also do not need to have it inspected. D2
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In the words of ME, "European, and any other government bureaucracy is a formless, self perpetuating, parasitic organism that resembles a toxic amoeba"
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So far no annual inspection for bikes or cars in Ontario. Also thought I was going to have to get an appraisal done on the '83 for insurance purposes after it hits 30 yrs. in age but as long as there is just liability on the bike and no comprehensive and collision etc. I don't have to get an appraisal. Also being a long standing customer of the same insurance company seems to be a factor.....I use Meloche Monnex of the Toronto-Dominion bank underwritten by Security National. This info I offer to my fellow Ontario forum members.
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Yearly MOT in UK, which although a hassle can be handy to have someone give the bike a once over and say oh did you realise that XYZ isnt right.
As for clothing i personally think Gloves and boots should be a legal requirement. There are so many usually scooter riders who wear trainers and no gloves. which is fine but come off at 30mph and its going to hurt.... and the NHS pics up the bill. I have only had two accidents one one a low side from locking the rear wheel (on a 125cc bike) which my boots saved me from what would have surely have been a broken ankle. and the Second was 60mph into the side of a tax that pulled out into the road. I had jeans on that day and luclky i hit a nice grassy verge.... I always wear proper trousers now and a jacket with a spine protector as if i landed on the road that day... broken back maybe? Before this incident i though that i was a good enough rider to not crash...
Ride as safe as you can, take calculated risks... but you can never calculate risk of other road users. Which is why for my 4 mile commute i wear full gear and always will.
Anyway... sorry for rabbiting on.
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Understand what you are saying about good clothing being essential but I'm not sure about legislation. Where do you stop ? How about pedal cyclist that can easily do 30MPH down hill with maybe rubbish brakes and they are just as prone as us to the "didn't see you" accident.
I give any Taxi a wide berth when riding. There will be good drivers amongst them but too many arrogant ones to give them the benefit of the doubt. Had a similar accident to you when I was 17. A taxi U turned on a major road right in front of me. I managed to hit the front wing instead of the door and sailed majestically over the bonnet. I was wearing a helmet and maybe some gloves but got way with it. Don't remember it hurting that much well you wouldn't at 17. The taxi driver couldn't understand what he did wrong because especially back then they thought the road belonged to so called "professional drivers" and everyone else should make way for them. He even contested the insurance claim but I was smart enough to beat the ****** on that score.
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Yeah i agree legislation shouldn't be needed... and it should be common sense to wear good gear.
and dont get me started on Taxis! the only so called professional drivers that have no more qualifications that Joe blogs.
That is one reason why i used to like my R1100GS with full pans etc. if a taxi tried to intimidate me i could do it back, bad i know but they soon would back off. The Remus helped too.