[klu]

http://www.motorcycl...ome-compulsory/

Quote

Dual purpose bikes could disappear from the market due to new type approval rules from Brussels, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations has warned.

The European Commission has refused to let motorcycles have an ABS turn-off switch when the technology becomes compulsory on models over 125cc in 2013.

It means bikes will effectively become unusable on dirt or gravel because the brakes won’t work, and threatens sales of dual purpose machines such as Yamaha’s Tenere and BMW’s GS range.

The threat to more off-road focused bikes such as Yamaha’s WR250 is even greater because the new rules grant type approval only to machines intended mainly for road use.

According to FEMA, the Commission has not yet established any criteria for deciding whether a bike is mainly for on-road or off-road use.

FEMA’s Campaigns Officers, Hugo Roebroeck, said: “You will have ABS on all the time and there will be no way for users to ride safely on gravels roads.

“Today, with the GS you can switch ABS off but maybe tomorrow you will not. How will they get round that? We have no idea.

“They could have less demand because their used bikes will be more in fashion.

“We can envisage an entire line of products disappearing from the market.”

A Yamaha source said: “Our WR250 is probably one of the best road bikes which people can use off road. Well, they are not going to be able to use it off road because they will lose control.

“It means having to buy a bike either solely for road use or solely for off-road use but not both.”

FEMA said it was preparing guidance for motorcyclists to write to MEPs before a European Parliament vote in spring. Keep checking MCN for details.

Personally I wish they would fvck right off with their compulsory rider aids, I don't want a computer altering my input to the bike. If I did I might as well be driving a cage

[jamesobrady]

I have to say, having been in(what I consider) emergency braking situations on non abs and abs bikes, i would "advocate" abs to anyone who was interested in a braking edge. There is nothing less nice than having to let go of a front brake as the bars shake and the side of a car approaches quickly. Or the back wheel skitters from left to right and your mind goes white noise.

I wouldnt advocate it as a mandatory addition, especially as a mandatory additional cost on bike purchase....but if you have the choice between abs and non abs on a road bike....abs gets my vote hands down.

It is not a "save-all" feature....if you slam on the brakes and try turn, an abs bike will spit you off just as quick as a non abs bike. But, for the AVERAGE rider in an EMERGENCY situation, abs gives you harder braking, which to me, is more time to think about avoiding the obstacle once your "brake brake brake" survival reaction relaxes enough for you to think about more options.

We're all different, but i know my natural reaction in an emergency is to hit the brakes, then think, then try avoid. For anyone who can think and act faster than they can grab the brakes without thinking, abs may be irrelevant. IN any case, im at the level where i am happy to put my trust in a computer and sensors controlling my wheels from locking, than i am trusting my seat feeling and correct reactions. Those who are better than me might find abs a hindrance-fair play on the skill level there.

In any case....there will always be a way to disable it.

This post has been edited by jamesobrady: 27 October 2010 - 05:51 PM

[proinnsias]

Worth noting - ref home servicing, that EOBD-II (European OnBoard Diagnostics) have been a standard (mandated) feature of most cars since the mid-to-late 90s - and guess what .. a reasonable quality code reader costs about €20, and is easily available to the home mechanic ...

Most modern bikes have black-box ECUs now, that can only be read by specialist dealer diagnostic kit - if we have an EOBD standard introduced for bikes, it makes it easier, not harder, to service your new Yamaha, BMW, Honda at home, because you can see _exactly_ what has caused the engine management (FI) light to come on ... and you can reset the fault memory in case it was a transient error !

Sounds positive to me ..

Restriction on modification - not such a great idea TBH, but I've yet to find a security-screw / bolt-head that can't be undone by sufficient application of the correct tools !

A shirt I wear quite regularly :




P

[ridertraining]

b1ackr0se, on 27 October 2010 - 02:39 PM, said:

I dont know... could be only speaking for myself here but all these aids just dumb the rider down... IMO

Like the new power control thing on the new hondas i think. The switch that kills the power. I think it has 3 stages. If you can't control the power you shouldnt be on that bike. Get a smaller one.



To many aids will only slow the riders reflexes down eventually making him so slow that if something does happen he/she will wait for the bike to fix it.

Umm, that Valentino Rossi guy - his bike is all manual, right?

[KaosTheory]

b1ackr0se, on 27 October 2010 - 04:54 PM, said:

Thats true... Jesus a car driver keeping a safe distance in traffic. That would be a first.

Anyway giving the distance you said in your last post... It gives you plenty of time to turn left (where the car containing the person who wishes to kill you has come from).

Theirs always options. Turning, finding a gap, if its empty go for the path.

Pointless argument if you ask me. You can keep coming up with what ifs until the cows come home.

If you can't handle a bike without aids you shouldnt be on it

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You have got to be joking? If I didn't know better I'd say you were trolling.

Kaos

[Tenmill]

Quote

The European Commission has refused to let motorcycles have an ABS turn-off switch when the technology becomes compulsory on models over 125cc in 2013.

It means bikes will effectively become unusable on dirt or gravel because the brakes won’t work, and threatens sales of dual purpose machines such as Yamaha’s Tenere and BMW’s GS range.

So how is this going to work in Finland where they have lots of gravel roads?

b1ackr0se, on 27 October 2010 - 05:11 PM, said:

My point is (to everyone still part of this - open debate -) how have people got away without them for years? I mean bikes were allot worse years ago. Worse breaks, sihte discs, bad suspension etc.

Is it just that they were hardy fcukers and could actually ride around things more often than not.

Maybe they just died more? Back in the 80s I believe it was about 600 a year getting killed on the roads.

b1ackr0se, on 27 October 2010 - 04:35 PM, said:

How have people survived for years without it!?? Ive had people pull out infront me almost on a daily basis!!

I would look at why that is happening. It seems to happen to some people several times a day and others once or twice a decade.

[fatso]

Tenmill, on 27 October 2010 - 09:01 PM, said:

I would look at why that is happening. It seems to happen to some people several times a day and others once or twice a decade.

Seeems to happen an awful lot to some people. Every thing that happens to them on the road is someone elses fault, blah blah blah, and all that.

Defensive driving/riding is probably the best rider aid , and its free too

As for Traction control , ABS etc. Well I have never ridden a bike with it so dont really know but yes I would buy a bike if it had it ( as standard) You might never ever get to use it but if it saved your bike and yourself from getting fcuked up , even once, then surely thats a good thing.
The argument about riding aids and been less skilled of a rider is fcuking ridiculous, If thats the case then get rid of modern tyres etc and go back to wooden brakes and 2"inch tyres made of non stick rubber.
Bikes have moved on an incredible amount , the power to weight ratio is crazy, and mental ponnies in modern sports bikes , BMW RR @ 200 ffs. Technology on them obviously has moved on too, some of this siht is to stop us killing ourselves.
Anyway, if its good enough for Rossi then its good enough for me.