The end of tinkering??

[manxie49]

I wonder is this going to the herald the beginning of the end for those of us who like to tinker and modify our bikes  https://www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/anti-tampering-threat/

[billy sugger]

I think they were trying to do this a couple of years ago

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Similar legislation was brought in for cars which caused endless debate on enthusiast's forums. In some countries anything departing from factory spec is illegal, whereas the UK has had a fairly open policy about modifications.

 

I can see legislation which is aimed at emissions having some traction but given that the number of bikes is a tiny percentage of road traffic I doubt HM Govt are going to make this part of the next Queen's speech.

[manxie49]

I think the main effect will be felt by a lot of sports bike riders who,  and I've done it myself, change exhausts, re-map, re-tune, de-cat .... Anything that fundamentality alters the emissions will probably get jumped on.  I did wonder how it would be enforced but IMHO they would probably tweak the MOT to reflect changes in the law.

[Davidtav]

I wonder how this would affect Allen Millyard and his wonderful creations?

[billy sugger]

1 hour ago, manxie49 said:

I think the main effect will be felt by a lot of sports bike riders who,  and I've done it myself, change exhausts, re-map, re-tune, de-cat .... Anything that fundamentality alters the emissions will probably get jumped on.  I did wonder how it would be enforced but IMHO they would probably tweak the MOT to reflect changes in the law.

I don't understand it, why do all this to a bike, unless it's been buggered and your putting it back to original. The only thing I have ever changed on a bike is a taller screen on the 600. It has the spoiler attachment so cuts down buffeting at speed. All the tuning, etc, would have been done to optimise the settings, and the exhaust made for the bike. Why buy something, then spend even more money and time altering it. I would not buy a bike if it did not suit me or not do as advertised, I'd walk away, not buy it then spend more on it getting it retuned/mapped. 

 

I did, in the early eighties, strip my 125 to change the rings, but then decided to see what could be done to increase performance., and ended up gas flowing the ports, skimmed a few thou off the head and thinner head gasket, flat headed piston with deeper grooves so valves  not hit and other bits and bobs. Bike ended up 12bhp  above standard, and after running everything in I took it to a long straight road for a speed test. Original top speed was about 88mph. I passed that at about two thirds throttle, kept going until I hit a indicated 104mph then had to back off, I hit bad steering wobble. 

As the bike was not meant for that speed the tyres were not rated that high. The Avon Road runners I had were maybe only meant for 90 tops, so never found out what it could do. 

Incidentally I ended up crashing big time on black ice on way to work so bike was a write off

Edited October 12, 2021 by billy sugger

[manxie49]

3 hours ago, billy sugger said:

I don't understand it, why do all this to a bike, unless it's been buggered and your putting it back to original. The only thing I have ever changed on a bike is a taller screen on the 600. It has the spoiler attachment so cuts down buffeting at speed. All the tuning, etc, would have been done to optimise the settings, and the exhaust made for the bike. Why buy something, then spend even more money and time altering it. I would not buy a bike if it did not suit me or not do as advertised, I'd walk away, not buy it then spend more on it getting it retuned/mapped. 

 

I did, in the early eighties, strip my 125 to change the rings, but then decided to see what could be done to increase performance., and ended up gas flowing the ports, skimmed a few thou off the head and thinner head gasket, flat headed piston with deeper grooves so valves  not hit and other bits and bobs. Bike ended up 12bhp  above standard, and after running everything in I took it to a long straight road for a speed test. Original top speed was about 88mph. I passed that at about two thirds throttle, kept going until I hit a indicated 104mph then had to back off, I hit bad steering wobble. 

As the bike was not meant for that speed the tyres were not rated that high. The Avon Road runners I had were maybe only meant for 90 tops, so never found out what it could do. 

Incidentally I ended up crashing big time on black ice on way to work so bike was a write off

Lots of people tinker and alter their bikes,  go to any track day or bike meet and see the myriad of changes people have done to their machines .... Why do it?  simply because we can,  not that I do it anymore, my bikes go far quicker than I ever will in stock form as they are. But a lot of bikers still like to tune their bikes to the last.  It comes down to individual preference,  you work, you earn your money, and if you want to invest coin in tuning your bike then why not?  I personally invest in comfort now,  but that's only because I'm getting older 

[skyrider]

5 hours ago, billy sugger said:

I don't understand it, why do all this to a bike, unless it's been buggered and your putting it back to original. The only thing I have ever changed on a bike is a taller screen on the 600. It has the spoiler attachment so cuts down buffeting at speed. All the tuning, etc, would have been done to optimise the settings, and the exhaust made for the bike. Why buy something, then spend even more money and time altering it. I would not buy a bike if it did not suit me or not do as advertised, I'd walk away, not buy it then spend more on it getting it retuned/mapped. 

 

I did, in the early eighties, strip my 125 to change the rings, but then decided to see what could be done to increase performance., and ended up gas flowing the ports, skimmed a few thou off the head and thinner head gasket, flat headed piston with deeper grooves so valves  not hit and other bits and bobs. Bike ended up 12bhp  above standard, and after running everything in I took it to a long straight road for a speed test. Original top speed was about 88mph. I passed that at about two thirds throttle, kept going until I hit a indicated 104mph then had to back off, I hit bad steering wobble. 

As the bike was not meant for that speed the tyres were not rated that high. The Avon Road runners I had were maybe only meant for 90 tops, so never found out what it could do. 

Incidentally I ended up crashing big time on black ice on way to work so bike was a write off

what bike was the 125 ?

[fastbob]

As long as my MOT guy rides a Harley chop with open pipes and an exposed belt primary I'm not going to lose any sleep over this . 

[Ian Frog]

I am going to concur with @fastbob and most of my bikes now and for the forseeable future are more than 5 years old so I will continue to play about with them and use sympathetic MOT stations.

Might even put the supercharged Busa back on the road just to give Greta a stroke !

Cheers

Ian

[dynax]

The Gestapo have already got plans to stop people from tinkering.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1021000/future-of-transport-regulatory-review-modernising-vehicle-standards-print-version.pdf

[onesea]

On 12/10/2021 at 13:31, billy sugger said:

I don't understand it, why do all this to a bike, unless it's been buggered and your putting it back to original. The only thing I have ever changed on a bike is a taller screen on the 600. It has the spoiler attachment so cuts down buffeting at speed. All the tuning, etc, would have been done to optimise the settings, and the exhaust made for the bike. Why buy something, then spend even more money and time altering it. I would not buy a bike if it did not suit me or not do as advertised, I'd walk away, not buy it then spend more on it getting it retuned/mapped. 

 

I did, in the early eighties, strip my 125 to change the rings, but then decided to see what could be done to increase performance., and ended up gas flowing the ports, skimmed a few thou off the head and thinner head gasket, flat headed piston with deeper grooves so valves  not hit and other bits and bobs. Bike ended up 12bhp  above standard, and after running everything in I took it to a long straight road for a speed test. Original top speed was about 88mph. I passed that at about two thirds throttle, kept going until I hit a indicated 104mph then had to back off, I hit bad steering wobble. 

As the bike was not meant for that speed the tyres were not rated that high. The Avon Road runners I had were maybe only meant for 90 tops, so never found out what it could do. 

Incidentally I ended up crashing big time on black ice on way to work so bike was a write off

One for example, TDM 900 has flap in air box to reduce emissions at low speed.

It also has the effect of making it juddery as hell at low speed.

Remove 1 wire in right place different bike...