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MEP Marta Andreasen has proposed a protest ride to the European Parliament to coincide with a vote on restrictive new measures for bikes on November 22.

The demonstration, backed up by Motorcycle News, is meant to fight the  European Union  Commissions Proposals for Framework Regulation(s) for Motorcycles.  Plans to regulate 2, 3 and 4 wheel quad bikes which are before Parliament but are yet to be voted on in the Plenary on late November.

The European Parliament's Internal Market Committee, chaired by Conservative MEP Malcolm Harbour, wants legislation in place to, among other measures, stop riders modifying or working on their bikes.

These "Anti-Tampering" measures would be enforced by on-board diagnostic systems (ODS) on new bikes. ODS could detect non-standard parts and trigger a warning light until the "fault" is rectified by a dealer. Routine faults could be reported in code decipherable only be a dealer, preventing home-servicing.

Experts say that this restrictions affect riders from choosing air filters, engine management systems, internal parts, exhausts, sprockets or tyres.

According to Andreasen the anti-tampering measures also seriously affect disabled bikers, since people with physical disabilities need modifications in their machines.

Under the proposed plans new bikes are also to get ABS. This system has its detractors and  even the Commission's internal Impact Assessment admits that the data on the effectiveness and costs of compulsory ABS is weak. Besides, where riders choose bikes with ABS the rider must be able to turn the system off when riding on loose surfaces such as gravel.

Another proposed measure is to introduce road-side spot-checks targeting riders. Motorcyclist would be the subject of random checks of emissions and modifications. Something that Andreasen sees as a denial of freedom that would be very controversial if it were applied to cars and other forms of road transport.

"We are forced to witness the EU sticking its nose in where it is not needed. What is worse is that the proposals show a distinct lack of understanding of how motorbikes work and, if implemented, could ironically make bikes less safe. Typically the European Commission has decided to blunder in and create a problem where none exists," Anreasen said.

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