Since the conception of the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive the European Commission and the Council of Ministers have shamelessly ignored the expert opinions of motorcyclists and their representatives and with the directive finally heading to the European Parliament later this year MAG hits the streets with the megaphone diplomacy that has characterised the group since 1973.
MAG says that the hoops and hurdles of the proposed licence regime will discourage thousands from taking up motorcycling.
The proposals will:
It would appear that Avon & Somerset Police in conjunction with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), are conducting a series of operations throughout the force area stopping motorcycles and inspecting them for road worthiness, with special emphasis on exhaust noise and number plates.
They have already conducted operations in the Bath & North East Somerset Area, and at the time of writing this are planning another operation in North Somerset.
It looks like this is to be an ongoing operation moving around the force area.
Bookings for the GWR rally are now being taken, and with this being a traditional green field rally we are expecting a reasonable turn out, for further details contact The Troll or phone 01934 838535
On the evening of 22nd July W&NS MAG are holding a Rock Nite at Hewish Village Hall, commencing at 7:30pm with two live bands, with tickets on sale at £5.
So make a day of it visit the Calne Motorcycle Show then have a party in the evening.
The fleet of motorcycles is rather big and is going to increase further. That means the efficiency of motorcycles is low, and in addition the air pollution due to them is relatively high. Moreover, the current power and performance levels are unacceptable. The current average fleet fuel consumption of motorcycles and scooters in the EU is about 4.1 l/100 km (equivalent to about 98 g CO2/km).
Although the energy efficiency of motorcycles needs to be improved significantly, there is some hope that Euro 3 motorcycles with catalytic converter run with leaner air fuel ratios and thus have lower fuel consumption. Based on a statistical analysis of the correlation between power to mass ratio (PMR) and fuel consumption of European motorcycles, the following measures are recommended:With the EURO 3 standard the common driving cycle will be introduced.
- Well-tuned carburettors or - better - direct injection for exact fuel dosing.
- Only 1-cylinder engines for an exactly harmonised air fuel ratio.
- Use of 4-stroke engines, because of the scavenging losses by 2-stroke engines.
- Automatic transmission for reasonable gear changing to avoid increased fuel consumption (and noise) in consequence of strong acceleration.
- Not more than 650 cm3 cylinder capacity.
This makes it possible for the first time to compare the CO2 emissions of all European EURO 3 motorcycles in an objective manner.
This comparison should be a part of a motorcycle environmental ranking list for analysis and evaluation of the environmental characteristics of motorcycles. Furthermore it is necessary to introduce CO2 limits for motorcycles graduated according to motorcycle classes (e.g.: mopeds, 50-169cm3, 170-269cm3, 280cm3 and above). This requires validated empirical data on fuel consumption of European motorcycles. Every motorcycle class has to get its own average CO2 fleet limit in a specific time frame. Such CO2 limits are the suitable way to break the motorcycle trend towards more power, speed and acceleration, 35 With the introduction of the new emission standard EURO 3 which will be launched on 1 January 2006, all new motorcycles need a catalytic converter. Joint Expert Group on Reduction of Energy Use in Transport “ Vehicle Technology, Fuels and Lubricants 37 since motorcycle manufacturers would respond with power and speed downsizing.
I’ve done a little arithmetic and some research.
Their own figures give the average fuel consumption for the PTW “fleet” Europe wide at 69mpg.
They are less forthcoming about car fuel efficiency A study completed in 2004 by the French environmentand energy agency Ademe and the World Energy Council indicates that over nearly 30 years, the average fuel consumption of European cars has dropped by more than 20% to around 6.5 l/100km, or 43 mpg."
Bikes seem to come off better in that comparison.
The EU working group are “experts” but they seem inexpert at argument:
"The fleet of motorcycles is rather big and is going to increase further. That means the efficiency of motorcycles is low, and in addition the air pollution due to them is relatively high."
Premise 1: there is a large fleet of PTWs
Premise 2: the size of the fleet is going to increase
Conclusion 1: efficiency of PTWs is low
Conclusion 2: air pollution from PTWs is relatively high.
You don’t have to be a genius to see that the conclusions do not follow from the premises.
And later: “current power and performance levels are unacceptable” to whom? I find them perfectly acceptable.
It’s a start. We need to get onto this. It seems to me to have an anti-motorcycle bias, but that could be because I have a pro-motorcycle bias. Stuart
The Motorcycle Action Group accepts no responsibility for the content of this publication and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or MAG.
Published by The Demented Troll