European developments that may knock on worldwide

[GrayWolf]

Simple answer - YOU DON'T. Learn to ride defensively. It doesn't matter how "visible" you or your bike are. Some twat (as in a lot of twats) still won't see you.

My bike is my only transport. I commute daily on the Auckland motorway and enjoy the twisties as often as I can. My bike and my gear (apart from the helmet) is all black. It's not a problem because I look after myself and never assume someone will do it for me.

OK, that is your view and I certainly believe we should look after ourselves and assume no one is going to see us. There is a lot we can do that enables us to have fun while making it easier to be seen to to ride in a way that minimises us getting in harms way. However I do believe there are some other measures that increase the conspicuousness of the bike. I've recently purchased some very very bright LED's and installed them on my bike. My bike is now harder to ignore and more visible to cars coming out of side roads. Still doesn't change my thought process about the car, I ride as if they don't see me but I know they can and that they are more likely to notice me now, just my opinion.

The UK Police in the 1980's were using 'day lights' a diffused bright light, rather than a beam light. I dont know if they are still using them, or if there is research to prove/disprove effectiveness? But your LED's are really doing a similar job. I wonder how effective modulating them would be? especially in an infrequent pattern?

[MrKiwi]

The UK Police in the 1980's were using 'day lights' a diffused bright light, rather than a beam light. I dont know if they are still using them, or if there is research to prove/disprove effectiveness? But your LED's are really doing a similar job. I wonder how effective modulating them would be? especially in an infrequent pattern?

I would think modulating lights would have some merits. I understand some states in Australia and the USA have permitted modulating lights for motorcycles, although I have not seen the research so can't verify. Modulating lights for motorcycles is currently not permitted in NZ

[swbarnett]

OK, that is your view and I certainly believe we should look after ourselves and assume no one is going to see us. There is a lot we can do that enables us to have fun while making it easier to be seen to to ride in a way that minimises us getting in harms way. However I do believe there are some other measures that increase the conspicuousness of the bike. I've recently purchased some very very bright LED's and installed them on my bike. My bike is now harder to ignore and more visible to cars coming out of side roads. Still doesn't change my thought process about the car, I ride as if they don't see me but I know they can and that they are more likely to notice me now, just my opinion.

To each their own. As long as it doesn't become a legal requirement.

I do, however, think that someone (this is not aimed at you necessarily) that concentrates on making themselves more visible to the detriment of their situational awareness has got their priorities all mixed up.

[mashman]

They have to keep themselves in a job somehow ya know. As for lights, had a chat with a fulla and he reckoned that he had less SMIDSY occurrences when riding the bike without the lights on... guess that's just 1 guy though. Wonder why they haven't included bar length, as I woulda thought that would be just as important

[BMWST?]

the problem with PAIRS of lights is that the average car drivers looks and judges the distance away as if looking at a car...hence they think you further away than you are esp if bright so the glare actually partly obscures your outline.

[mashman]

the problem with PAIRS of lights is that the average car drivers looks and judges the distance away as if looking at a car...hence they think you further away than you are esp if bright so the glare actually partly obscures your outline.

So if they judge a single light in a similar way, then must must think that the vehicle is even further away? and perhaps don't even look for an outline?

[BMWST?]

So if they judge a single light in a similar way, then must must think that the vehicle is even further away? and perhaps don't even look for an outline?

not sure a single headlight is seen as a bike i think but it is difficult to judge speed and distance from a single light.A bright bright single light makes judgement of speed distance more difficult i believe

[mashman]

not sure a single headlight is seen as a bike i think but it is difficult to judge speed and distance from a single light.A bright bright single light makes judgement of speed distance more difficult i believe

I guess too much light entering the eye blurs, if not hides, the outline of what's actually shining at you. I wonder why lights are mandatory sometimes.

[MrKiwi]

To each their own. As long as it doesn't become a legal requirement.

I do, however, think that someone (this is not aimed at you necessarily) that concentrates on making themselves more visible to the detriment of their situational awareness has got their priorities all mixed up.

I'm quite clear that situational awareness is much the higher priority. But I believe additional lighting also helps, or put another way situational riding is not always enough (and neither is additional lighting alone). It's the combination of things that keeps us upright.

But as you say, each to their own. If every rider was good at situational riding then we would have fewer accidents.

[Muppet]

Article in June issue of 'Bike'.

When I read this, I thought it was a piss take. The poms are VERY worried.

The main points are:

In October 2011 the European Commission released a proposal for a new regulation governing the spec of all road motorcycles i the EU.

...the regulation bans all modification of the powertrain, from the air intake to the rear tyre diameter, whether by you or a bike shop, forbids the sale of race parts for the road (or any device which overrides a standard system), ends the culture of building specials, may threaten home servicing and raises the prospect of onboard diagnostics that could disable the bike if an unauthorised change is detected.

The truth is we don't know the full effects of this regulation, and we aren't allowed to. Those details will only be revealed AFTER the Parliamant has voted, probably on July 3, 2012.

We know, however, that they will set as-yet unspecified Type Approval limits for bikes' chassis.



Christ almighty!

[SMOKEU]

I call bullshit.

[bogan]

I call bullshit.

If only! I saw that proposed a while back, I think its the kind of thing that will cause many to opt-out of being a legal biker. I know I would. Unfortunately mass opting out is only going to lead to more and more regulations and fines and checks etc; hope they can axe this shit early on.

[mossy1200]

Might lead to manufacture of up spec R version bikes equipt with ohlins,yoshi and other bling and current models becoming base line bikes.
They must have a certification for bikes with mods already when they do the change or maybe they will just have to export them cheap to places like NZ to sell them.

[tigertim20]

I call bullshit.

nope. has been talked about at length. Not that exceptional really given the 100 bho limits in france already.

[Muppet]

I call bullshit.

You think so? Go and buy the mag then: 'Bike' June 2012, pages 20 and 21. It has a green ZZR1400 being chased by a yellow sports car on the cover with the words 'Speed Lives!' above it. Then read page 35, which is a column written by Rupert Paul. And then you can tell me I'm talking shit.