Riders on the NI Bikers Forum have highlighted an issue on our roads regarding motorcycles.

This time it considers certain Traffic Light Loop Sensors which are embedded in the road surface. Riders report that the sensors are not triggering the traffic lights during time periods when traffic is light or late at night & early in the morning.

This is forcing riders to either “take a chance” to go through the red light; use various means of approach to traffic lights to try and activate the sensors or wait for a car to turn up to trigger the sensors.

Previously, advice was sought from the PSNI and although sympathetic that it was frustrating to be stuck at traffic lights for long periods while they remain red, stated that it would be illegal to jump the lights and the rider could be liable for prosecution.

However at Right To Ride we say don’t get frustrated, there is a way to solve this and that is to report the fault on the Roads Service “Report A Fault” online.

Does reporting a fault work?  Well one rider reports, “I used this link you provided last night and got this response: “The sensitivity of the detection has been increased. This problem should now be resolved. If you are still having difficulties please let us know. Thanks for passing on this information.”

The rider also received a separate pdf format response from a different person in the roads service saying they will issue a reply by 10th Nov.

www.righttoride.co.uk

The Heritage Motor Centre is celebrating after winning a joint Gold Award for Regional Culture at the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards. The winners of the highly coveted awards were announced last Thursday at a glittering awards ceremony at Birmingham University’s Great Hall. Hosted by Central TV presenter Bob Warman, the awards celebrate the very best in tourism from the Heart of England, an industry that contributes £6 billion a year to the West Midlands economy.

The Heritage Motor Centre is committed to preserving the region’s motor heritage and culture. The HMC houses the collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and contains the finest collection of British motor cars in the world. The region’s motor heritage is also actively preserved in the Trust archive which is accessible to visitors. Heritage Lottery funding has enabled the Trust to begin “Land Rover Legacy”, an exciting project which aims to make more of their collection of Land Rover and Rover material available to the public through their website and a special exhibition on the factory at Solihull.

Brian Summers, Chairman of Tourism West Midlands said, “The awards showcased the very best in the Heart of England’s tourism industry, proving yet again how important tourism is to our regional economy and offering. We are lucky in the Heart of England to be home to such a diverse range of tourism businesses and I was delighted to see a range of new and more established attractions attending, clearly demonstrating that our tourism sector isn’t standing still, but is constantly looking forward and growing”.

Julie Tew, Managing Director at the Heritage Motor Centre, said: “We are extremely proud and delighted to have won this highly coveted award. It is a wonderful achievement for my team and the Heritage Motor Centre to be recognized and rewarded at such a prestigious ceremony”.

To find out more information about the Heritage Motor Centre, please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The EU Commission presented its proposal for a regulation on type-approval and market surveillance of L-category vehicles.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) who were present at the meeting to exchange views, reports that the Commission has rejected FEMA’s objections to the Commissions mandatory approach regarding Advanced Braking Systems (ABS) and FEMAs compromise for the fitment of a mandatory “switch-off” option.

FEMA’s logic for a mandatory switch-off button for bikes equipped with ABS, is due to the fact that ABS is not suitable for certain riding conditions, especially with regard to riding on unpaved roads.

FEMA reports that, “The Commission (…) considers the number of citizens living in areas with a high percentage of unpaved roads as negligible compared to the broader riding population. Indeed, the Commission fears that too many riders would switch off the ABS also when riding on common roads, due to “unjustified lack of faith in new technologies”.

Apart from the outrageously condescending comment by the Commission, suggesting that riders are unable to decide for themselves, it is apparent that the Commission has NOT considered duel purpose motorcycles nor those used in competition or recreation such as Trail and Enduro bikes that spend most of their time on unsurfaced public roads – which they are legally entitled to use – that are legal with number plates, silencers, tax and insurance.

In the UK alone, 42,500 Trail and Enduro bikes were registered between 2005 and 2009.  These represented 10% of all registered motorcycles in 2005 and 6% in 2009 (these figures exclude those not registered).

Larger adventurer motorcycles such as the Yamaha XT1200Z, Super Ténéré, BMW GS model range andKTM 990 Adventure all have means to disengage the ABS if fitted, the industry has recognized a need for this, or to offer motorcycles without ABS so that riders can choose the model that most suits their needs.  

At Right to Ride our position is simple and we will not cross the red line: 

• We oppose the mandatory fitting of Advanced Braking Systems (ABS).  
• We oppose any compromise that suggests acceptance of the mandatory fitting of Advanced Braking Systems (ABS). 
• The motorcycle industry must be allowed to innovate these systems without legislative interference.  

We generally support the Department for Transport’s (DfT) response to the Commission’s public consultation in 2009 regarding advanced braking system for motorcycles.

Read more on the Right To Ride website - Share Your Thoughts - Leave your comments

With new updates to the Monster and Streetfighter ranges, exciting changes to the Superbike family and the recent news of the Diavel’s debut at Milan , Ducati UK can now announce that these hugely anticipated new models will make their UK debuts at this year’s Motorcycle Live.

The Superbike family sees comprehensive updates with the introduction of the new 1198SP which enhances the previous 'S' version by being equipped with Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), Ducati Data Analyser (DDA), Ohlins TTX rear suspension, slipper clutch and aluminium fuel tank in addition to the usual Ohlins front suspension, forged Marchesini wheels and lightweight carbon fibre components. The 1198 also benefits from equipment enhancements, DTC, DDA and DQS are all fitted as standard equipment. The 1198 retains its current RRP of £13,295 while the 1198 SP is expected to be £17, 495.

The recently released 848 EVO range boasting 140hp equipped with Brembo Monobloc calipers and steering damper sees a new additional paint scheme in stunning arctic white livery with contrasting red wheels and red frame. The 848 EVO has an RRP of £10,695 or as the colour Dark Stealth with an RRP of £9995.

The Streetfighter sees some aesthetic changes with two new colours red with red frame and a diamond black with black racing frame, while the Monster family welcomes new colour schemes and ergonomic updates to Ducati's naked icon.

The entry level 696 gets new 43mm Marzocchi forks, 20mm higher handlebars and a new rear sub-frame designed to accept the user-friendly passenger grab-rail kit and two new colour schemes of “dark stealth” and “stone white”. The Monster 796 also adopts Marzocchi front suspension; all Monster models retain current RRPs as does the Streetighter range.

At last year’s Motorcycle Live it was the Multistrada that drew all the focus, anticipation and hype that a new Ducati brings and now it is the turn of the recently announced Diavel.

The Diavel is Bolognese dialect for devil and with its commanding presence, stunning looks and performance to match it is like no other Ducati. The Diavel features the latest Ducati technology including ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Riding Modes a Superbike-derived Testastretta 11° engine and 207kg (456lb) providing Ducati performance in comfort that could only be dreamt of until now.

Ducati UK will be present at this year’s Motorcycle Live with a spectacular new stand and the full 2011 range including new additions only previously seen at the Cologne and Milan shows.

The full 2011 model range will be display in Hall 2 on Stand B220 from the 27^th November to the 5^th December. For further information on the latest Ducati news and range visit www.ducatiuk.com and for show information visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk