Those of us who have a vested interest in motorcycling will be very familiar with the EU’s ongoing campaign to drive the biker off the roads of Europe.  Some of you, like myself, will be members of MAG or similar such organisations and involved in protests and lobbying MEP’s to try and stop the erosion of our liberty.  And, I’m sure, those that do will have been as frustrated as I over the almost total lack of support from the popular press and the population at large.

Imagine my amusement then when the EU extended the proposed European Super MOT to cars.  Strangely there was an outcry in the popular press.  Follow these links see:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motors/4525010/EUs-MoT-war-on-pimping-up-British-cars.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2199311/Millions-modified-classic-cars-banned-roads-meddling-European-Union-try-shake-MOT-rules.html

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/911043-new-european-mot-rules-could-make-classic-cars-illegal-warn-critics

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9526693/Motorists-face-EU-ban-for-modifying-cars.html

Funny how this all happens as soon as the wider car driving population gets dragged into the battle.  Just for the record, I also drive a car between 30,000 and 40,000 miles each year and whilst it maybe unseemly to say it  ”we told you so !”  Maybe now more people will get off their backsides and make a stand.

Decision made.

Two weeks ago I bought a Suzuki VZ800 M800 K8.  A cruiser, oh yes, a cruiser and I absolutely love it. Life on a bike just got a lot more relaxed and considerably more comfortable.  A sissy bar has made life for the Old Dragon better as well

and, as an added bonus, I’m using less fuel averaging approx 60 mpg.  Best of all, I can see what’s going on around me both in terms of scenery and traffic so I’m safer as well.

If you’ve never ridden a cruiser then you must.  It’s biking at a whole different less frantic pace.  If you ache after 100 miles on your sports bike give cruisers a go.  It might go against the grain, it did for me, but trust me…you’ll never regret it.  For me it gets better and better every time I go out.

This is unashamed plagerism here.  The below is copied directly from the e-petition page but this is such an important matter for all bikers and road users in general that it’s best explained in its original form.  Please sign the petition, you never know when you might need it.

Return VAT on Air Ambulance fuel payments.

Responsible department: Her Majesty’s Treasury

The Air Ambulance Service is forced to meet rising fuel prices year on year including VAT.

The Air Ambulance Service have saved successive governments millions and millions of pounds funded by charitable donations given by the general public to run what has proven to be an essential service.

Whilst the Lifeboat Service has been exempt from VAT on fuel costs since 1977, a similar privilege has not been afforded to the Air Ambulance Service;

We call on the government to have an urgent review of this situation and in doing so
We call on the government to return in the form of grants to Air Ambulance Service providers all the future VAT which the Treasury collects from them so that the Air Ambulance Service is in practice exempt from paying VAT in the same way as the Lifeboat Service.

Link to Petition

As mentioned in the last post, I’ve become a bit of a riders rights evangelist.  Having subscribed to the MAG activists email list and written a few letters to MEPs, and received the generally condescending replies, I have become convinced that MAG is an essential organisation if we are to protect our pastime.  So I’ve taken the plunge and shelled out the £25 to join.

It appears that the EU Commission is intent on legislating the motorcyclist off the roads.  So far as I can see the measures being proposed will have very little impact on the accident statistics and are centered around addressing the symptoms rather than changing the attitudes at the root of the issue.

Now, I don’t want to sound as if I’m anti car, I’m not, in fact far from it.  I’m fortunate enough to have a job that comes with a car and old enough to know the wisdom of opting for the car over the bike in adverse conditions.  I drive a car over 30,000 miles every year and have done for the last 20 years.  However, as a motorcyclist as well and a car driver of over 30 years experience I have observed a drastic downward slide in driving standards.  So few car drivers pay the attention our busy roads need these days.  Consequently motorcyclists get forgotten or ignored and hence the increase in accidents.  Even the DfT studies show 70% of accidents involving motorcyclists are caused by car driver errors.

I for one will not lie down and let politicians legislate me off the road and neither should you.  If MAG, FEMA and other such lobbying organisations are going to keep up the pressure then they need our pennies.  Join up today and help protect the future of motorcycling.

It’s just coming up to a year since I returned to biking and a time to reflect on the consequences.

My re-emergence into the sunlight is still a source of great pleasure.  I’ve ridden through all sorts of weather to all sorts of places and enjoyed every moment.  The Old Dragon and I finally, after 25 years together, have a common interest.  In fact I have trouble getting out on my own now.  For my sins I have a high pressure career that makes way to many demands on my time and energy but the bike has provided me with the most wonderful distraction and saved my sanity.

An added benefit has been that the standard of both my riding and driving has improved.  Biking definitely makes you more aware of the hazards out there.  Senses are heightened, observation improved and awareness of other road users brought right to the forefront.  This, however, has become a mixed blessing.  I find myself now becoming a bit of a driving standards evangelist and picking arguments on the subject.  I’m a staunch defender of riders rights and have even been harassing MEP’s over the proposed legislation being discussed by the European Commission not to mention participating in protest rides.

On the other hand I have joined the Ulysses Club UK, signed up again to help at the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling, am intending to join MAG and have met many many fantastic people.  I even have a new adopted brother as a result.

If 2012 continues in the same vein I’m going to have the best year imaginable.  Let the good times roll.

I’m not sure I should admit to this but it was so hot today I couldn’t even bring myself to get kitted up andgo for a ride ! What’s that all about then.

What a horrible day. Too much to do, not enough time to it and the whole world wanting it yesterday. An hour out on the bike around the local A roads and it all starts to get better. God bless the man who thought of strapping and engine to a bicycle !

Today thousands of bikers took to the major roads around the UK to register their objections to proposed EU legislation.  This is supposedly in the interests of motorcycle safety but addressing the cause of 0.07% of accidents whilst destroying the jobs of thousands at huge cost to motorcyclists seems to be missing the point in my opinion.  If you then take into account that the cause of 70% of motorcycle accidents, i.e. poor car drivers, haven’t been taken into account in any point of the legislation and I can’t help but feel that this is legislation for legislation’s sake.

It was heartening to see so many bikers turn out to support MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) in their fight against this nonsense.  The gang pictured consisted of myself, the Old Dragon, David my little brother and my niece.  We met at H Café just outside of Oxford and proceeded to join the ride South down the A34 from the Didcot services.  We were quite near the front of the group but looking back in my mirrors there were bikes filling the inside lane at 40mph for as far as I could see.  Let’s hope those in Westminster take notice.  Fluorescent jackets, restrictions on modifications and restrictions on the age of vehicles allowed in urban areas are not wanted here.  Instead go away and teach car drivers to keep a proper lookout for other road users.

Wandering around the web recently looking at various motorcycling related bits & pieces I came across the UlyssesThe aims of the club are: Club.  Being the curious chap I am I looked into this a bit further and found a little treasure.  The club was started many years ago by a brit, Stephen Dearnley,  living in Australia and is aimed at the more ‘mature’ biker.  The club is now a global organisation with branches in Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, the UK, Germany and beyond.   The bit that really appealed was the club moto ‘Grow Old Disgracefully’ which is a line I have used on many occasions for many years.  I took this to be a good omen.

Three years in and the festival just gets better and better.  This event is pretty much unique: attendance this year was in the region of 12,000 to 15,000; it is run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of charity and is designed to promote the family side of motorcycling.  Brackley High Street is closed to form one arena with the local school fields providing space for fun fair, food stalls, displays and traders stalls.  Attractions include stunt shows by the likes of Kevin Carmichael, custom bike show and historic racers to name but a few.  You’ll find major manufacturers like Harley Davidson, Yamaha and Ducati displaying their wares and offering test rides as well.  All in all it is a massively successful event with something for everybody.  It is my pleasure to volunteer as a marshal every year as well as being related to one of the organising committee.  If you want a great day out for all the family you could do a lot worse that get the date in your diary for next year (19th of August in case your curious!).  If in doubt as to how much people enjoy the event, take a look at the website

With any luck I’ll see you there.