25th Sept 2011 - Action Now! EU Hands Off Biking

[philharrow]

A raft of issues emanating from Europe will have a profound effect on riders and the motorcycle industry generally. We must stand up and be heard. Some of these are driven by the EU Commission, like the new Type Approval and Market Surveillance Regulation that will see the introduction of compulsory ABS, the sealing of powertrains from the airbox, through the engine to the final drive (including the diameter and aspect ratio of the rear tyre), restrictions on the aftermarket industry, possible roadside checks by police or other government agencies to inspect emissions, detect owner 'tuning' and more..

Just curious if anyone else will be airing their CB-1's at a protest ride tomorrow?

Further details can be found herehttp://www.mag-uk.org/en/campaignsdetail/a6883 if required.

[TrailCub]

There's a thread about this on our local motorcycling forum.  You have our support!  I wish I was over there, I'd certainly be joining you all.

[philharrow]

You're with us in spirit, thats the main thing. It will be the largest single co-ordinated motorcycling event in British history, we shall have to wait and see how much it gets reported by the mainstream media!

[rigwit]

Might set off from wooley edge which is next junction from me. If I remember...memories like a sieve.

[philharrow]

Yeah, I know that feeling and I'm in work all night On the upside hopefully I won't be too busy and can make it, I've got 2 options locally one slightly closer in case I need a sleep when I get home, another co-ordinated from a local accessory shop which is well in with the local MAG group which I'd prefer to do but it'll mean leaving here about 10.30am, I don't finish work 'till 7am!
I'm not prepared to let it lie though, some of the proposals really are stupid.....thankfully, many of them wouldn't apply as my bike's 22 yrs old, but at some point I'd like something a wee bit newer to run alongside, and I'd like to be able to choose what tyres I put on it!

[rigwit]

I can see it being applicable to new bike's, with period of grace, but if they try to make it applicable to every Motorcycle,then it cant fly, on the grounds of, "Human Rights"  unless they encompass all the old cars,vans,wagons etc.

Some Cars on the road have hand push wind screen wipers, drum brakes, cable operated, some with only back brakes and so on.

I used to hate nights 12 hour shifts and if nothing went wrong you'd end up doing sweet fa also on Friday you'd finish at 5am sat morning then back at 7 am till midday doing any backlog repair, maintenance then a 4 to 5 hour drive home ,to be back at work on day shifts starting 7am Monday,  while the day shift finished Fridays then they didn't have to be back till 7pm monday night..

[philharrow]

I thought I'd post Paddy Tysons email response here for anyone who's interested.

What a fantastic day!

Thank you all so very much for organising and taking part.
Numbers are yet to arrive from over 50 of the start points, but so far I
can say that we averaged just shy of 400 bikes per start.
Some of the bigger events down south saw support from French, Belgian
and German riders.

Of course, if you do the maths, with 105 starts, that's over 40,000
bikes riding on the day.

The Police have been fantastic, and the only comment of note, at the
Watford Gap Services on the M1, was one Rocker saying to one Mod "Didn't
I see you on a beach?"

M6 Corley Services run merged with the M1 Southbound run from Liecester
which was an incredible sight and one I won't forget for a while!

Unfortunately there were instances of riders on return journeys after
the event, deliberately blocking traffic and riding as slowly as 20 mph.
This is not something MAG can condone, is terribly counter productive
and the fallout is going to be very hard to deal with. It's a real shame
that there are those determined to undermine us and add to the workload,
but I suppose it's to be expected.

Thank you all again for taking part, especially where it was raining.

Riders Rights is back on the agenda.
--
Kind regards

Paddy Tyson
Campaigns Co-ordinator
MAG (UK) - Motorcycle Action Group