FEMA survey: ‘Motorcycle parking should be free’ FEMA News 24 May 2022 Let us choose where to park safely and don’t ‘punish’ us by making us pay for our smart mobility choice; Europe’s motorcyclists are very outspoken when it comes to motorcycle parking. More and more authorities introduce restrictions on where a motorcycle can be parked. We also see a rise in the number of paid parking spaces dedicated to motorcycles. FEMA wanted to know how European motorcyclists feel about this and conducted an online survey on motorcycle parking. The overall conclusion of the survey is that riders from all over Europe want to be able to park their bike anywhere, as long as it does not cause nuisance for pedestrians and other road users. An impressive 88.94% of the respondents say motorcycles should
BMW goes back to basics BMF News 23 May 202220 May 2022 BMW has filed a patent for 'adjustable air deflectors' to improve comfort at low speed and aerodynamic efficiency when tanking along. The surprise, given the German company's love of complex high tech, is that the new system doesn't use electronics or clever speed sensors – just good old-fashioned springs. Moto Guzzi's new V100 Mandello has adaptive bodywork with the same end in mind – moveable flaps in the fairing are flush at high speed, but move outwards into the air stream to reduce turbulence when cruising more slowly. Servo motors move the flaps, controlled by electronics. BMW's system is much simpler. The flaps are hinged at their forward end and held open by springs. The faster you go, the air pressure increases,
Speed limiters mandatory for cars from July BMF News 21 May 202220 May 2022 Speed limiters will mandatory on all new cars sold in the UK from 6th July, but the new law doesn't apply to motorcycles. Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is a software system which automatically limits speed to whatever limit is prevailing, though it can be overridden by the driver. Many car manufacturers already fit ISA, including Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot/Citroen, Volvo and Renault. Anna Zee, Political and Technical Services Director of the BMF, explained the context. “ISA is part of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) passed by the EU in October 2021 and includes a number of items besides ISA, such as Automatic Emergency Braking. Yes, we will see this on cars sold in the UK because there is no law to say they
NMC Calls on The Government to Show More Ambition on Motorcycle Decarbonisation NMC News 20 May 2022 Net zero motorcycling should be about much more than just battery electric motorcycles and arbitrary UK-only targets The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today published its position on motorcycle decarbonisation and its policy on the potential end of internal combustion engine (ICE) production for motorcycles. The position was reached after extensive consultation among motorcycling and other organisations both in the UK and internationally. A target of 2035 has been mooted as the phase out date for all ICE powered motorcycles, with a government consultation on motorcycle decarbonisation due shortly. The NMC opposes an arbitrary target date, given that it is not yet known whether a global manufacturing base can meet a UK-only target with a range of motorcycle types which will have
No customs formalities when bringing UK bikes to the European Union FEMA News 19 May 202219 May 2022 British motorcyclists who had their bike transported to the European Union, often ran into trouble and were confronted with high fines in EU countries. Following action by FEMA, FIVA and NMC, the European Commission has now confirmed to us that taking a motorcycle or a car with you from the United Kingdom to the continent should not be a problem. It may sound strange for many of us, but a large number of British residents do not ride their bike to the continent, but put them in a van or a trailer, or hire a shipping company to transport the bike to the area where they want to ride with it. Also, owners of historic vehicles are used to transport their vehicle
Noise cameras to trial in England and Wales BMF News 16 May 202213 May 2022 Noise cameras will be trialled in four areas of England and Wales this summer – the BMF has already reported that Paris had begun the widespread use of noise cameras (see here), which can automatically detect individual cars and bikes breaking noise limits. The cameras can also provide real-time reports which are acceptable to the police as evidence. Noise cameras are already in limited use by Westminster Council around Waterloo Place and Exhibition Road, but this new move could be the precursor to a nationwide roll-out of the new technology. The location of the four trial areas has yet to be decided, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is inviting residents to lobby their MP to submit applications to take part. “We want
Austria imposes wheelie ban BMF News 13 May 202210 May 2022 Heading to Austria this summer, and have a liking for biking acrobatics? Then beware, because the Austrian government is cracking down on wheelies, stoppies and other vehicle shenanigans – fines go up to 10,000 euros and your bike could be impounded for three days. The Austrian Motor Vehicles Act has been amended to outlaw boy racerish games such as drifting, tyre squealing and backfiring. “Non-situational use of the motor vehicle in which there is not contact between the road surface and all wheels at all times," is also outlawed – in other words, wheelies and stoppies. Wheelspins, wheel locking and doughnuts join the banned list as well. The rules apply to quiet areas such as private car parks just as much as
Norton buys classic collection BMF News 12 May 202210 May 2022 Norton, now revived under ownership of Indian giant TVS, and with a new factory in Solihull up and running, is underlining its long heritage by buying up key historic models. A total of 55 bikes have been bought from Norton collector Ian Loram, who had built up the collection since the 1990s. Stretching from 1916 to 1992, they include some of the rarest Nortons ever made, including a Model 1 Big Four, a rare speedway bike from 1930 and an example of the rotary-engined Norton F1, road going version of the RCW588 race bike from the early '90s. There's also a 1968 Norton Atlas which was used for royal escort duties when new. Some of the bikes will go on display in
BMF Dambuster Rally! BMF News 12 May 2022 Dambuster 6 Designed as a traditional, laid-back camping rally, the BMF Dambuster Rally has become a very special annual motorcycling event. It’s complete with live music, fantastic food, a venue steeped in history and an excellent ride-out location to explore the fabulous Lincolnshire countryside, or even a trip to the sea-side. 2022 will be the BMF Dambuster Rally’s sixth anniversary. Live bands will be performing on the Friday and Saturday evenings. Thorpe Camp Visitors Centre, Lincolnshire is the ideal venue to celebrate the heroic deeds of the famous Dambusters raid in 1943. You can pitch your tents among the historic display planes and World War Two artefacts – and it’s situated in deepest Lincolnshire ‘Bomber County’. All of the museum’s buildings will be open
Vnuk ruling overturned BMF News 11 May 202210 May 2022 The BMF has welcomed the dismissal of the so-called Vnuk judgement – a Private Members Bill to prevent implementation has been passed by Parliament. The ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2014, prompted by an accident involving a tractor, was that third party insurance should be compulsory for all mechanically propelled vehicles used on all private and public land. Intended to protect against injuries from agricultural vehicles, the ruling placed a huge question mark over the future of motorsports, whose costs would have been increased hugely had the ruling been universally applied. One EU country, Finland, which had introduced a law similar to Vnuk, found premiums escalating from a low cost to thousands of Euro per annum per person.